Wheeling, W. Va. – The Wheeling University Women's Basketball team (5-13, 5-9) took on Frostburg State on Monday night in a game that was rescheduled from January 15th. The Cardinals fell behind early and were unable to come back as they dripped the game 59-47. The Cardinals scored 26 second-half points in the game and battled back in the third quarter, but Frostburg State was able to maintain their lead.

Early on through the first quarter, it was a back and forth contest with the teams trading the first six points of the game. Shanley Woods hit a two to start things before Lauren Calhoun and Emily Holzopfel each added a bucket to bring the score to 6-6. Neither team was able to fully take control through the first seven minutes of the game, and the score sat at 10-9 with the Bobcats holding the slight advantage. It would be Frostburg State that would get that first separation, scoring the final five points of the quarter over those three minutes. When it was all said and done, the Bobcats held a 15-9 advantage after the first quarter as Wheeling looked to battle back.

As the game moved into the second quarter began, Frostburg State hit another three-pointer to make their lead 18-9 before Wheeling got going. Wheeling battled back on a 6-0 run over the next four minutes and brought the score to 18-15. The Cardinals kept within striking distance for the next two minutes, but once again it was Frostburg State that pulled head with a 6-0 run that brought the score to 29-19 with a minute left in the half. Freshman Ava Lickliter knocked down two free throws to finish the quarter, but Wheeling would lead into halftime down 33-21. Wheeling shot just 18.5% from the floor in the second quarter and it put them in a hole.

They made adjustments at halftime and came out looking stronger than ever in the third quarter. Calhoun got the scoring started with a layup, and led Wheeling on a 4-2 run that brought the score to 33-25. Wheeling slowly but surely fought their way back into the game. They turned an 11 point deficit into a nine-point game thanks in large part to the work of Calhoun. She scored seven of her team's nine points over the first six minutes of the third quarter, and Wheeling would trail 39-30 with four minutes left in the third. However, the Cardinals would get into foul trouble early in the quarter, and it would cost them with Frostburg State going 5-8 from the free-throw line in the third. 

Wheeling would trail 44-36 heading into the fourth quarter, and were still very much in the game. There wasn't a whole lot of scoring throughout the fourth quarter, with the teams combining for 13 points over the first eight minutes, but it was the Bobcats who took advantage. Frostburg State outscored Wheeling 9-3 during that stretch and turned things into a 56-40 affair. The Cardinals would only allow three points over those two minutes, outscoring Frostburg 7-3, but it was too little too late to make a comeback. Strayhorn scored four of those final seven points with two buckets, but Wheeling would fall 59-47.

Lauren Calhoun continued her hot streak going over the 20 point mark for the fourth straight game and picked up her fourth straight double-double. The reigning Co MEC Women's Basketball Player of the Week led the offense with 23 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead the defensive game. Strayhorn was the other double-digit scorer for the team, finishing the night with 12 points while grabbing seven rebounds. Junior Emily Holzopfel led the passing effort with two assists. Shots just weren't falling for Wheeling throughout the night, as they shot 31.4% from the floor and they couldn't put down their free throws with only 56% of their shots made from the charity stripe.

The Wheeling University Women's Basketball team will be back in action on Wednesday, February 2nd when they take on The University of Charleston at 5:30 pm.