New London, Conn.- Coast Guard senior Melissa
Martinelli had a game-high 24 points and tied a season-high with 11
rebounds as the host Bears beat Clark 61-58 in overtime in a New
England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) game.
Coast Guard (4-4, 3-2) had a 42-30 lead with 10:44 left before
Clark used a 20-8 spurt to tie the game at 50-50 on a pair of free
throws by senior Jillian Camilleri (Lancaster,
Mass.) with 33 seconds left in regulation.
The Bears turned the ball over after the free throws and Clark
sophomore Ivori Aiken (Harlem, N.Y.) missed a
jumper from the foul line as time expired to send the game to
overtime.
Camilleri scored the first bucket in overtime for a 52-50 lead
before junior Jessica Anderson hit a 3-pointer giving the Bears a
53-52 lead. Aiken hit a 3-pointer to give Clark a 55-53 edge with
3:36 left.
Martinelli tied the game at 55-55 on a hoop with 3:03 left and then
gave the Bears the lead for good at 57-55 on basket with 2:15
left.
Senior Sabrina Taylor knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:42
left before freshman Karli Collins iced the game with a offensive
rebound and basket with 33 seconds left for a 61-55 edge.
Senior Carin Sweeney was huge for the Bears as she finished with
career highs with 14 rebounds, six assists and five steals. Collins
was also in double figures for the Bears as she had 11 points.
Camilleri led Clark with 17 points while Aiken added 14 points and
sophomore Kate Minister (Manchester, England) 13
points in the loss. Senior Blaize Denfeld (South
Windsor, Conn.) led the Cougars with eight rebounds.
Coast Guard shot a season-high 46.3 percent from the field (25-54)
including 55 percent in the second half (11-20). The Bears also
made four of six shots in overtime. Coast Guard made three of 13
from 3-point range.
Clark shot 30.9 percent from the field (21-68) while connecting on
six of 18 from 3-point range.
The Cougars, now 3-9 overall and 2-4 in the NEWMAC, will step out
of conference on Monday and face the nation's No. 2 team, Amherst
(12-0), beginning at 7 p.m.
