MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - A tough Wednesday Night battle against Wesleyan ended with the Coast Guard Women's Basketball Team falling just short, 69-68, despite a late push.
The Bears went on an eight point scoring run to open the game, not allowing the Cardinals to score until three and a half minutes into the first. Coast Guard went up by as much as 10 in the opening quarter before Wesleyan battled back to tie and eventually take the lead.
In the second quarter, the game was switched as the Bears found themselves having to claw their way back from a once 12 point deficit. Heading into the break, CGA was down, 33-24.
Coming out of the break, Wesleyan looked to have taken control of the game as Coast Guard was now trailing by as much as 18 in the third. However, the Bears weren't done yet. CGA started to close the gap with four threes by putting them right back into the game. By the end of the third, is was all tied up at 54 after two made free throws by Kelly Hagarty.
The final 15 was a whole new match with three ties and eight lead changes. With a little over a minute to go, the Bears needed to make something happen as they were down by five. A steal by
Kira Wood to gain possession for
Julia Mann to knock down a two, putting CGA within three. With 28 seconds to go, Wesleyan was a the line following a foul. One missed FT gave Coast Guard the ball back, down four. Wood splashed a three to bring the Bears within one. Within the next nine seconds,
Dorothy Stotts stole the ball and the Bears took the lead after two made free throws by Mann.
At just two seconds left in the game, Wesleyan threw up the ball, making a lucky shot to take the lead and ultimately the game.
Wood led all players in scoring with a season high 26 points. She went 6-13 beyond the arc and had five rebounds. Stotts had 13 points, four rebounds and six assists. Hagerty recorded 10 points and nine rebounds.
This is only the third loss of the season for the Bears. They now stand at 11-3 overall.
Coast Guard will have its first conference game of the season on January 13th at 1 PM, hosting Wheaton.
