NEW LONDON, Conn. —
Three Bears recorded double-doubles to help the U.S. Coast Guard Academy women's basketball team to a season-opening 84-44 win over Baruch College on Saturday night in Roland Hall.
The result is the Baruch's first of the season, setting the Bearcats up for a bounce-back effort at home on Wednesday, November 11th, against the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Coast Guard scored the first 17 points of the game despite shooting only 24.0% (6-for-25) in the first quarter. A layup by Brianna Lopez got Baruch on the board with three seconds to go in the first, the visitors' lone make on 15 shots up to that point. The Bearcats were unable to recover from the slow start as the Bears shot over 40.0% for the rest of the game.
Junior forward
Colleen Finnegan (York, Pa.) opened the season with an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double and added a career-high four blocks to her final line. Joining her for the game-lead in points was freshman guard
Belle Banner (Georgetown, Ky.), who drained four triples to go with her six eight rebounds and five assists in an impressive collegiate debut. Lola De Luka had 12 points to lead Baruch as one of three Bearcats in double digits.
Freshman forward
Lucy Walker (Waterford, Conn.) contributed 15 points and seven rebounds while swatting a game-high three shots, while classmate down low
Maggie Mills (Hamilton, Va.) and sophomore guard
Ruby Miller (Bethlehem, Pa.) were the other two Bears with double-doubles. Both pulled down 12 boards, with Mills' seven offensive rebounds and Miller's six assists respectively leading the game. Miller also added two steals to her final line. Baruch's Lillianna Morales had a game-high 14 rebounds.
Coast Guard women's basketball is set to return to action on Wednesday, November 11th, at the University of Hartford (0-1). The Bears will be looking to avenge last season's meeting in West Hartford, which saw the Hawks hold off a late surge to hand Coast Guard a 60-68 loss.
