United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Women's Basketball

SALEM, MASS.--(11/17/06)—Coast Guard played even with Williams, ranked 17th in the nation, as the teams were tied 39-39 with eight minutes left, but the Ephs scored 19 straight points outscoring the Bears 19-1 the rest of the way to advance to the championship game of the Salem State College Tip-Off Tournament with a 58-40 win.

Coast Guard had tied the game at 39-39 on a basket by freshman Melissa Martinelli with eight minutes left in the game.

Coast Guard behind the play of junior Natalie Moyer led 14-12 with 8:39 left in the first half. Moyer had 12 of the Bears 14 points at that point including a three-pointer giving the Bears the lead at 14-12. Coast Guard would be held to just one field goal the rest of the first half.

Williams, which advanced to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 last season, used an 8-1 run to take a 20-15 lead before sophomore Chanel Lee hit one of two free throws and added a bucket with 2:10 left to cut the lead to 20-18.

The Ephs scored seven of the final eight points in the first half including a three-pointer at the buzzer by senior Ellen Wilk giving Williams a 27-19 lead at halftime.

Williams took its biggest lead of the game, 30-20 with 17:30 left in the game before the Bears responded with seven straight, a three-pointer by junior DeCarol Davis, and two baskets by Moyer, making it a 30-27 game with 15:42 left.

Moyer led the Bears with 18 points while Martinelli had 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds in her first career game.

Meghan Stetson and Maggies Miller each led Williams with 19 points.

Coast Guard will take on New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) rival Springfield in the consolation game at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Springfield lost to host Salem State 77-71.