NEWPORT, R.I. - Junior Gill Gerton had a game high 17 points as Coast Guard opened the season with a 63-59 victory over Salve Regina in nonconference action.

Gerton added six rebounds and three assists to go along with her 17 points. Junior Jill Bray scored 13 points going 3-5 from beyond the arch. Freshman Breanna Wood came off the bench to chip in 12 points with nine rebounds, a block and a steal.

Mary Eden had 16 points while Allyson Esielionis scored 15 points for the Seahawks. Torie Scorpio added nine points and Kerri Beland dropped eight.

Salve Regina ran out to an early 12-4 lead with Eden scoring six of the Seahawks first 12 points of the game.

The Bears climbed right back into the game going on a 10-0 run as Wood and Martinelli each had four points over the stretch right before the first quarter ended in a 15-15 tie.

Coast Guard came into the second quarter and surged ahead going on a 10-2 run capped off by a Gerton layup, making the score 27-17 with 4:41 left in the period.

Salve Regina stormed back at the end of the first half closing within six of the Bears and making the first half score 30-24.

In the third quarter Coast Guard pushed their lead to nine late as Gerton made two of three from the stripe making the score 43-34.

Senior Amanda Roy shortly after, drained a three pointer pushing the score to 46-34 with just over two minutes to go.

In the fourth quarter, the Bears were up 15 before the Seahawks chipped away at the lead and closed within two after Eden made a three pointer with 1:12 left in the game. 

However, Sophomore Jayla Joyner and freshman Laura Irish both made a foul shot down the stretch closing out a 63-59 victory.

Coast Guard was 23-58 (39.7%) from the floor and shot 38.9% (7-18) from three. The Bears bench came up big tonight outscoring the Salve Regina bench 18-8.

The Seahawks shot 30.5% (18-59) overall and 3-14 (21.4%) from beyond the arc. Salve Regina held a slight advantage in points off turnovers outscoring Coast Guard 19-13.

The Bears are back in action Friday, when they play Rivier at UMass Dartmouth Invitational. Opening tip is 2:00.