| Stephanie Straka was
12-for-20 for the floor en route to 25 points in Frostburgh's upset
victory. Frostburg State athletics photo |
Senior guard Stephanie
Straka scored a career-high 25 points, including 15 in
the second half, to guide the Frostburg State women's basketball
team to a thrilling 67-59 upset of No. 12 ranked Lebanon Valley on
Thursday.
Straka poured in basket after basket in the closing minutes as the
Bobcats (4-6) held the Dutchmen (8-2) scoreless over the final
3:40. With the game knotted at 59-59 following an LVC layup, Straka
scored the game's final eight points to push FSU to the eight-point
win.
Frostburg overcame a 20-10 disadvantage in fouls and a 20-of-27
(74.0%) effort for LVC at the foul line for FSU's biggest win of
the season.
Despite the eight-point final margin, Lebanon Valley didn't make
it easy as the score was tied 11 times and the lead changed hands
on six occasions.
Straka's stout second half effort overshadowed a strong first half
in which she poured in 10 points, including six during a 9-0 run
that gave the Bobcats a 10-point lead, 26-16, with 7:13 to
play.
Lebanon Valley quickly answered with a 9-0 run of its own, that
trimmed the FSU lead to just one, 26-25. LVC closed out the opening
stanza with a 7-0 run for a two-point lead at halftime, 32-30.
The Dutchmen led by five points on several occasions inside the
opening six minutes of the second half, but the energetic Bobcats
didn't allow the visitors to take control. Bobcat sophomore Bobbi
McDonald hit a jumper, her only points of the game, with
6:56 left in regulation that gave the hosts their first lead of the
second half, 55-53.
Straka finished 12-of-20 (60.0%) with four steals and four
assists. Junior Elaina
Hummel was the only other Bobcat in double figures with
15 points, including two three-pointers. Senior Brynn
Arnone grabbed a team-high nine rebounds to go along with
seven points.
LVC had three starters in double figures, led by 17 points from
Kiely Chaklos. Tierney Hiltz finished with 14 points and five
assists.
Frostburg returns to action at the Otterbein Smokey Ballenger
Classic and FSU will face host Otterbein on Friday, Dec. 28, at
6:00 pm.