FROSTBURG, Md. — The West Liberty Hilltoppers women's basketball battled throughout but came up short Wednesday night, falling to the Frostburg State Bobcats women's basketball 68-62 at Bobcat Arena.
West Liberty (7-16, 4-12 MEC) led after the first quarter and saw the contest tied seven times, but Frostburg State (11-12, 7-9 MEC) used a 17-10 advantage in the third quarter and 40 points in the paint to secure the win.
The Hilltoppers opened the night with strong energy, taking an 18-15 lead after one quarter. Anna Lucarelli jumpstarted the offense with an early three-pointer, while Reagan Vinskovich and Kaleigh Norris added key baskets to keep the Black & Gold in front.
West Liberty maintained momentum into the second quarter, extending its lead to five on multiple occasions. A three-pointer from Dria Parker and another triple by Norris helped the Hilltoppers carry a slim 33-31 advantage into halftime.
The Bobcats responded in the third quarter, capitalizing on inside scoring and a timely three-pointer from Ayla Hileman to seize control. Frostburg outscored West Liberty 17-10 in the frame, turning a tight contest into a five-point edge heading into the fourth.
The Hilltoppers continued to fight down the stretch. Lucarelli drilled a three-pointer with just under four minutes to play to trim the deficit to seven, and Ana-Isabel Andersson added a key layup to keep West Liberty within striking distance. However, Frostburg's consistent scoring in the paint proved decisive as the Bobcats held on for the 68-62 victory.
Lucarelli led West Liberty with 17 points, shooting 6-of-11 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Vinskovich posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds on 6-of-9 shooting. Andersson finished with seven assists and three steals, while Norris added nine points.
West Liberty returns home Saturday to host Fairmont State Fighting Falcons women's basketball at 2 p.m. inside the ASRC.
West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.
