Box Score NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Senior
Meghan Fornaro had 18 of her team-high 24 points in the second half leading Coast Guard to a 69-60 win over Albertus Magnus in the final non-conference game of the season.
Fornaro, who was named the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Player of the Week earlier in the day, did most of her damage from the foul line as she made 13 of 16 from the charity stripe including 9 of 12 in the third quarter.
Senior Torie Sutherland added 14 points while freshman Micaela Martinelli had a team-high ten rebounds in the win for the Bears.
The Bears, who have won three straight and six of their last seven, improve to 14-9 on the season while Albertus Magnus drops to 14-10 on the year. Coast Guard beat the Falcons for the sixth straight time.
Coast Guard jumped out to an 11-2 lead with 7:27 left in the first quarter by making four of its first five field goal attempts including a pair of 3-pointers by sophomore Jill Bray to begin the game.
Albertus pulled to within 15-10 on a hoop by Kelsey Pendagast with 4:40 left in the first quarter, but that would be the Falcons last field goal of the quarter as Coast Guard used a 11-1 run to end the quarter and lead 26-11.
Sophomore Gill Gerton's basket with 8:27 left in the second quarter capped a 15-1 run giving Coast Guard a 30-11 lead.
Coast Guard took a 34-15 lead on a layup by freshman Kristina Bynum with 4:57 left in the opening half before the Falcons scored eight straight making the score 34-23 with 1:29 left in the half.
The Bears led 38-25 at halftime as they shot 50 percent from the floor (15-30) while making 3 of 8 from behind the arc. Albertus was 10 of 36 in the opening half (27.8 percent) and missed all eight 3-point field goal attempts.
Albertus would use score five straight to close to within 43-36 with 4:53 left in the third quarter following three free throws by Liz Falcigno.
Coast Guard would score the final six points of the third quarter with Fornaro going 4-for-4 from the foul line and the Bears led 56-42 after three and cruised in the fourth quarter.
Olivia Bolden had a double-double leading Albertus Magnus with 24 points and 17 rebounds.
The Bears shot 34.8 percent (23-66) in the win hitting 5 of 20 from 3-point range while Albertus was 22 of 71 (31 percent) and just 2 of 18 from behind the arc.
Albertus struggled from the foul line making just 14 of 32 (43.8 percent), just 3 of 10 in the fourth quarter.
Coast Guard is back in action on Wednesday when they play at WPI in a NEWMAC game at 5:30.
