New London, Conn.-- Senior Micaela Martinelli scored a career-high 26 points to lead Coast Guard to a 96-52 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) victory over Clark University on Wednesday night. The Bears improve to 5-11 overall and 4-4 in the NEWMAC, while Clark drops to 7-10 overall and 3-5 in conference play.

Martinelli was 11-13 from the field and 4-5 from the free-throw line to lead the Bears. Laura Irish added 15 points for Coast Guard going 6-7 from the field and 3-4 from behind the arc. Emma Puddington chipped in with 14 points and eight rebounds.

Emily Sifferlen led Clark with 23 points and five rebounds. Maya Kerstetter added nine points and five rebounds for the Cougars.

Puddington scored the first five points of the game as the Bears took an early 5-0 lead. Zoe Riis-Fallica and Annabella Farabaugh sunk back-to-back three pointers for the Bears to extend their lead 18-10. Coast Guard held on to the lead as they finished the first quarter with a 28-20 advantage.

Martinelli scored 14 of her points in the second quarter, while Farabaugh and Irish combined for 10 points in the quarter for the Bears. With 1:09 remaining, Irish scored from three point range to spark a 9-2 run for the Bears to close out the half, 59-38.

The Bears shutdown Clark in the second half, only allowing the Cougars to scored 14 points, including just one point in the final quarter of play. Julia Guerrero scored 10 points for the Bears in the fourth quarter as they took the 96-52 final.

The Bears return to action on Saturday, January 19 when they travel to Wheaton at 1:00 PM.