Quick Start Sparks Women's Basketball Past Coast Guard

WPI 59, Coast Guard 40

Worcester, MA --- WPI jumped out to a 23-2 lead en route to cruising to a 59-40 victory over visiting Coast Guard in a NEWMAC women's basketball contest played Saturday afternoon at WPI's Harrington Auditorium. With the win, the Engineers lift their record to 11-6 overall and 7-3 in conference play. Coast Guard is now 4-9 on the season and 3-7 in NEWMAC action.

WPI scored the first ten points of the game, six of those by junior Elle Fontaine (Franklin, MA). Coast Guard was just one of nine from the floor to start the game while WPI hit on 8-of-14 to build the 23-2 advantage with 9:40 left in the half. The Bears also turned the ball over 12 times in the opening 11 minutes.

Fontaine and rookie Caitlin O'Connor (New Hampton, NH) shared game-high honors for the hosts with 15 points each. Melissa Kuhn (Stoughton, MA), Charlotte McDonnell (Swansea, MA) and Lauren Hannmann (East Greenbush, NY) all chipped in with eight points each for the Engineers, who amassed 17 steals on the day.

Melissa Martinelli (Vero Beach, FL), the NEWMAC's leading scorer, paced all players with 18 points and six boards. The Bears rebounded from their slow start, by connecting on 55% of their second half field goal attempts. Coast Guard would get as close as 15 in the second half at 55-40 on Martinelli's first career 3-pointer with 2:22 left.

The Engineers, who received five boards from Hannmann and four each from Fontaine and freshman Theresa Logan (Southboro, MA), outrebounded the Bears 30-26. Coast Guard turned the ball over 28 times while WPI turned the ball over 20 times.

Both teams continue NEWMAC play on Wednesday. WPI ventures to Northampton to take on Smith at 7pm while Coast Guard entertains MIT at 5:30pm.

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