NEW LONDON, Conn. The lock down defense of the Smith College Pioneers was too much for Coast Guard to handle. The Bears loss drops them to 15-5 (4-2 NEWMAC). 21st ranked Smith College improves to 16-3 (5-1 NEWMAC). Smith will next face Clark University Saturday at home at 2:00.

The Bears were met with suffocating defense to start the game, scoring just 9 points in the 1st quarter. At the half, CGA trailed by just 9 but missed many opportunities to lessen the deficit. Coast Guard could not seem to get anything to fall, even with open opportunities. 

CGA fought hard to get back into the game in the 3rd but were unable to gain any sustained momentum. Every time the Bears scored, the Pioneers had an answer. The momentum seemed to swing towards CGA numerous times early in the quarter but Smith would not let them back in. Late in the 3rd, the Pioneers extended the lead to 19 on the back of second chance opportunities on nearly every possession. 

The Bears came out on fire in the 4th quarter. With six minutes remaining they cut the lead down to 10, and at 5:35 Smith was forced to call a timeout. The Pioneers came out of the timeout with intensity and pulled away, winning by a score of 77-55. They were led in the second half by guard Ally Yamoda, who shot 6-9 from three point land.

Coast Guard was led in scoring by sophomore Dorothy Stotts. Stotts scored 15 points and hit the Bears only three pointer of the night. Rebounding was spread around as Glory Blethen, Kelly Hagerty, Taylor Lynch, and Kira Wood each came down with five boards. Blethen added a season high four blocks.

The Coast Guard Academy Bears will look to get back in the win column Saturday 1:00pm at home vs MIT. Saturday will be Senior Day for Coast Guard women's basketball. The Bears will honor their three seniors: Julia Barbalato, Natasha Lange, and Kira Wood.