BABSON PARK, Mass. - Coast Guard fell to Babson 78-54 in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Sunday afternoon. 

With the loss Bears falls to 8-8 overall and 5-3 in conference play. The Beavers improve to 12-5 on the season and 8-1 in the NEWMAC.

Senior Meghan Fornaro had a team high 16 points. Freshman Micaela Martinelli had nine points and seven rebounds while senior Torie Sutherland added nine points and six rebounds of her own. Sophomore Michelle Hernandez had nine points on 3-4 shooting from three.

Babson was led by senior Giovanna Pickering who had a game high 17 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Senior Linnett Gruber scored 15 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and had a game high three blocks. 

In the first quarter Coast Guard jumped out to a 6-2 lead after Sutherland made two from the stripe at the 6:49 mark.

Babson answered with a 14-3 run to take a 16-9 lead after junior Taylor Russel finished off an old fashion three point play giving the Beavers a 16-9 lead with 1:44 left in the quarter.

Five straight points from Fornaro and then a free throw from junior Bekah Muller however cut into Babson's lead making the first quarter score 16-15.

The Beavers pushed their lead back to seven to start the second quarter as sophomore Brenna LeGacy scored four straight points giving Babson a 22-15 with 7:14 left in the first half.

Fornaro pulled the Bears back within three after her three pointer made the score 24-21 with under five to go in the second quarter.

Babson attempted to distance themselves from Coast Guard again at the end of the first half as two free throws from Pickering made the score 33-25 going into the second half.

Fornaro scored eight of ten points for the Bears in the second quarter and 13 of the bear 25 points in the first half. It was also physical battle as the two teams combined for 30 fouls.

The Beavers again started off strong in the third quarter starting out on a 9-2 run pushing their lead to 17 at 44-27 with 5:22 left in the third quarter.

Coast Guard continued to hang around going on a 16-6 run highlighted by two three pointers from Hernandez making the score 50-43 with under a minute left in the third quarter.

The Beavers however took complete control of the game in the fourth quarter outscoring the Bears 25-11 and closing out a 78-54 victory.

Coast Guard shot 26.1% (18-69) from the floor and were 6-25 (24%) from three. 

Babson was 29-78 (37.2%) overall and shot 18.2% (2-11) from beyond the arc. The Beavers dominated the paint, outscoring the Bears 48-20.

Bears are back in action on Wednesday, January 27th when they host Smith in NEWMAC action.Tip off is 7:30 pm.They are the second game of a double header with the men taking on WPI at 5:30 to start the night.