Box Score
FROSTBURG, MD – The Rowan University women’s basketball team won 62-56 over host Frostburg State University in the first round of the Jim Crawley Tip-Off Tournament on Friday evening.
The Profs play the winner of the Albright College/Immaculata University game in the championship on Saturday at 4 p.m. Prior, Frostburg State faces the loser in the 2 p.m. consolation.
Center Kate Matthews (so. Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) led the way with a career-high 28 points. She was 12 for 18 from the floor and made four of 10 free throws. Matthews also grabbed 11 rebounds. Guards Tia Scott (fr. Paulsboro, NJ/Paulsboro) and Bria Hill (so. Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) each chipped in with eight points. Forward Erin Farrell (sr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) pulled down nine boards and Hill followed with seven. Guard Jade Bonder (so. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) registered five assists and Farrell had four.
The Bobcats had three players in double figures. Guard Stephanie Straka (sr. Jerome, PA/Conemaugh Twp.) totaled 15 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Ronje’ James (so. Baltimore City, MD/Pikesville) contributed with 14 points and guard Elaina Hummel (jr. Huntingdon, PA/Southern Huntingdon) added 12. Forward Brynn Arnone (sr. Keedysville, MD/Boonsboro) collected seven rebounds.
The Profs had a 17-point lead (31-14) after the first half. Arnone hit a jumper that made the score 6-3 at 16:12. Rowan had seven straights points to go ahead 10-6 (14:26). Matthews made two of the three baskets and guard Alexis Govan (jr. Bridgeton, NJ/Camden City Technical Schools) hit a three. The Profs never trailed again for the remainder of the contest. At 12:35, Hummel hit two free throws and Frostburg pulled within two points (10-8). Over the next 7:09, Rowan produced 12 straight points. Scott and Hill scored four apiece while center Stephanie Krauss (sr. Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Reg.) and Matthews each had two. Matthews hit a jumper at 2:21 for a 16-point advantage (28-12). With 51 seconds left, Hill’s jump shot ended the period (31-14). Matthews totaled 14 points in the half.
In the final stanza, Bonder’s basket at 19:14 made the score 33-16. Frostburg State pulled within eight points (33-25) at 16:05. Guard/forward Bobbi McDonald (so Claysburg, PA/Claysburg-Kimmel) scored four points in the run while Straka and Arnone each had two. Hummel had one foul shot. The Bobcats were down by two points (35-33) after James’ layup with 12:40 remaining.
The Profs answered with an 8-0 surge that put them back up by 10 points (43-33) at 9:27. Scott contributed with four points while forward Dena Moses (fr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) and Matthews each had two. Frostburg State was down by four points (45-41) after forward Courtney Young’s (fr. Upper Marlboro, MD/Bishop McNamara) free throw. It was the closest the Bobcats came for the remainder of the game. Rowan followed with 11 straight points to lead 56-41 with 3:50 left on the clock. Matthews scored eight of the 11 points. Bonder had a layup and foul shot (1:08) and Matthews added a basket (:39), which increased the advantage to 10 (62-52). Hummel sank two free throws (:29) and Straka had a layup (:13) for the final score.
