SLIPPERY ROCK — It’s been nearly a year since Jazmyne Frost had played at Morrow Field House.

She reminded everyone how dominant she can be when healthy.

The senior forward on the Slippery Rock University women’s basketball team scored 26 points and added 14 rebounds in her first game in 11 months on her home floor, but her effort and a late Rock rally weren’t enough in an 80-77 loss to Wheeling Jesuit Tuesday night.

“Pretty darn good. Pretty darn good,” said SRU coach Tanya Longo of Frost. “She’s just really committed herself to the team this season. She’s one of our captains. She’s working her tail off and doing everything she can to help her team.”

Frost was 10-of-13 from the floor and also had two blocks and two steals for The Rock.

She helped Slippery Rock storm out to a 12-6 lead early, scoring nine of those points. But Wheeling Jesuit went on a 19-1 run late in the first half and led 46-32 at halftime.

The lead swelled to as many as 19 early in the second half and the Cardinals led 78-61 with 4:14 remaining before The Rock launched its frantic comeback.

SRU used a 16-1 run to close to 79-77 with five seconds remaining before the rally simply ran out of time.

“The fight — I just couldn’t be prouder of the way that they fought coming back,” Longo said. “We executed some things really, really well down the stretch that’s going to be valuable for us this season. It’s just disappointing not walking out of here with a win.”

For Wheeling Jesuit and coach Debbie Buff, it was a good way to start the season.

“We pulled it out. We persevered,” Buff said. “We’re going to get better. Sometimes I think you just have to get that first win out of the way, get those nerves out.”

That’s what Longo was hoping to do.

Despite the loss, the coach saw some very encouraging signs.

Sophomore point guard Erica Aiello had a strong game with 14 points and 10 assists. Sophomore swing player Aidan Geise came off the bench to add 16 points for The Rock.

“(Aiello) is only a sophomore and she’s really growing,” Longo said. “She had a lot of nice plays and some nice moments.

“(Geise) is a worker,” Longo added. “We sat down after last season and she said, ‘Coach, I want to play — in the games,’ I said, ‘All right, Aidan, here’s what you need to do. You need to be able to knock down shots, rebound and defend.’ And she’s really worked hard in those areas.”

D’Asia Chambers scored only two points, but she was big on the boards with 12 rebounds, including 11 on the defensive end, as The Rock out-rebounded Wheeling Jesuit 46-40.

Still, Longo isn’t looking for moral victories. She’s looking for concrete ones.

“I like our progress,” Longo said. “I wish we could have gotten a couple Ws to show for it, but there will be some real bright moments ahead for this group.

“It’s kind of like getting the lid off the basket,” Longo added. “Once we do and break through, I think away we can go.”

WHEELING JESUIT 80

Alex Anderson 2-8 3-4 7, Emily Robinson 4-9 1-2 13, Breanna Butler 6-14 4-6 18, Taneka Lewis 6-11 3-5 16, Kylie Frizell 2-5 2-2 7, Jaila Bryant 4-6 1-3 9, Chelsea Richardson 0-2 0-0 0, Rachael Smetzler 0-0 0-0 0, Taylor Lubinsky 1-2 2-3 4, Lydia Hyburg 0-1 0-0 0, Jaana Motton 3-6 0-0 7 . Totals: 28-64 16-25 80.

SRU 77

Jazmyne Frost 10-13 6-13 26, D’Asia Chamber 1-8 0-0 2, Erica Aiello 4-16, 5-8 14, Kara Houppert 0-4 1-2 1, Megan Mardiman 2-7 6-8 10, Aidan Geise 5-8 3-4 16, Bridget McClure 0-3 0-0 0, Danielle Garroutte 0-0 0-0 0, Rebecca Olkosky 3-4 0-0 8. Totals: 25-63 21-35 77.

Halftime Score: Wheeling Jesuit 46-32

3-point goals: Wheeling Jesuit 8-22 (Robinson 4-6, Butler 2-9, Lewis 1-2, Frizell 1-4, Richardson 0-1); SRU 6-27 (Aiello 1-6, Houppert 0-4, Mardiman 0-5, Geise 3-5, McClure 0-3, Olkosky 2-3)