United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Women's Basketball - Maine Maritime First Half Run Downs Bears

VALLEJO, CA.--(11/21/08)--Maine Maritime used a 17-1 run in the first half holding Coast Guard without a basket for almost 11 minutes as the Mariners beat the Bears 49-43 in the first round of the Maritime Classic Basketball Tournament hosted by California Maritime.

Coast Guard (0-2) beat Maine Maritime 74-47 last season in the first round of the ECAC Tournament, which the Bears went on to win.

The Bears will take on either Cal. Maritime or Evergreen State (Wash.) in the consolation game on Saturday at 4:00 EST.

The Bears started strong as they scored the first seven points of the game on back-to-back baskets by junior Melissa Martinelli and then a 3-pointer by junior Sabrina Taylor with 16:02 left in the first half.

Maine Maritime (1-1) then took control using the 17-1 run to take a 17-8 lead with 5:51 left in the first half. Coast Guard was held without a field goal for almost 11 minutes and the Bears made just three field goals over the final 16 minutes of the first half and trailed 25-15 at the break.

Coast Guard was six of 36 (16.7 percent) from the floor in the opening half and two for 12 from 3-point range while Maine Maritime hit eight of 31 (25.8 percent) from the floor while missing on all seven 3-point attempts.

The Mariners used a 10-0 run taking a 39-20 lead with 10:52 left to take its largest lead of the game.

Coast Guard would not go quietly, as the Bears rallied scoring 12 of the next 14 points, eight by Martinelli to pull to within 41-32 with 6:13 left.

Sophomore Allison Majcher and Martinelli scored back-to-back baskets as the Bears pulled to within five at 46-41 with 1:50 left, but that would be as close as they would get.

Samantha Goda had 11 of her game-high 18 points in the first half to lead Maine Maritime which shot 32.7 percent from the field (18-55) while missing all nine from 3-point range. Goda also had a game-high 13 rebounds.

Martinelli led Coast Guard with 16 points. The Bears shot just 25.7 percent from the floor (18-70) and they were four for 22 from 3-point range.

Taylor had a career-high 10 points for the Bears while senior Chanel Lee led Coast Guard with 12 rebounds.