Melissa Martinelli led the Bears with 24 points in the loss.
NEW LONDON, CONN.--(2/6/10)--Senior Berit Schelde led three Smith players in double figures with 14 points and the Pioneers shot 50 percent from the floor enroute to a 57-48 win over Coast Guard in a New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference game.
Smith (11-8, 8-6), shot 55 percent (11-20) in the first half while holding Coast Guard to just 19 percent (4-21) in the first half. The Pioneers held Coast Guard to just two field goals over the final 13 minutes of the first half and led 28-15 at halftime.
The Pioneers outscored Coast Guard 13-4 to start the second half and open up their largest lead of the game at 41-19 with 15:14 left.
Later in the half, Coast Guard (5-14, 3-11) scored eight straight, the first six by senior Melissa Martinelli as the Bears cut the deficit to 50-38 with 5:06 left, but Shelde then scored four straight to put the game away for the Pioneers.
Smith was 21 of 42 from the floor and two of four from 3-point range while Coast Guard finished 15 of 45 (33.3 percent) from the field and just one of six from 3-point range.
Martinelli had 19 of her game-high 24 points in the second half to lead Coast Guard while senior Carin Sweeney led the Bears with six rebounds.
Freshmen Elizabeth BelBruno and Daron Dean each added 10 points for Smith. Dean led the Pioneers with six rebounds and four assists.
