NEW LONDON, Conn. –

Coming off a home loss Saturday to Smith College, Coast Guard needed a bounce back and they got it in a big way with a convincing 68-50 victory over Babson. The win gives the Bears their first in conference play(1-1) and improves them to 9-7 overall. The Babson loss gives them an identical record to CGA, 9-7 overall and 1-1 in the NEWMAC. They will travel to MIT on Saturday with a 1:00 PM tip-off vs the Engineers. The Bear victory marks the first time since 2013 and 2014 that they have won back to back games vs Babson, with CGA taking the Beavers down last year as well by a score of 67-62. 

Coast Guard took off early and never took their foot off the gas. After Babson hit a three to start the game, the Bears answered by rattling off a 15-4 run to take an eight point lead into the game's first timeout. Still leading by eight with three minutes to go in the quarter, both defenses locked in and brought the scoring to a screeching halt. The next 14 possessions resulted in no scoring for either team until with one second left on the clock, Dorothy Stotts(Edina, MN) was fouled and made a free throw to take a 19-10 lead into the second. 

In the second, Babson crawled back into the game. Seven steals by the Beavers in under seven minutes gave them the opportunities they needed and they reaped the benefits by taking a 26-25 lead, their first since early in the previous quarter. With the score tied 30-30 and under two minutes left in the half, the Bears rattled off four points to take a 34-30 lead into the half. 

In the penultimate quarter, Coast Guard came out red-hot and made their lead commanding. They doubled up the Beavers 22-11, shooting 44.4% from both the field and for three while holding Babson to 33% from the field and 25% from three. The cherry on top in the third quarter was a buzzer-beating three pointer by sophomore Ruby Miller(Bethlehem, PA). In the fourth quarter, the Bears cruised to victory by way of out-scoring Babson 12-9 en route to a 68-50 win.

The Bears were led in scoring by Olivia Wright(Midlothian, VA) and Dorothy Stotts, each with 19 points. The pair also combined for five three pointers and nine rebounds. Elliot Geer(Jay, OK) was the other in double figures with 11 points and six rebounds with two assists and a block. Senior Taylor Lynch(Madison, IN) led the way for CGA in both rebounds and assists with nine and three respectively. Farrah Peterein(Oxnard, CA) was second in rebounds with seven and led the squad in blocks with two.

The Bears will next travel to Wellesley College on Saturday January 24th for a 1:00 PM tipoff vs the Blue.