United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - 2006-07 Season Review

The Coast Guard Academy women’s basketball team had another solid season in 2006-2007 as the Bears finished 13-13 overall and 6-7 in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference.

The Bears beat rivals Merchant Marine and Conn. College as well as beating NEWMAC power Springfield and ECAC runners up Wheaton in key league games during the season.

Junior Natalie Moyer was sensational for the second straight season as she led the NEWMAC in scoring (19.0) and 3-point field goals (63) for the second straight year which earned her a spot on the All-conference first team for the second straight time.

Freshman Melissa Martinelli was a huge addition to the team in the front court. She had a tremendous freshman season in which she lead all NEWMAC freshman with 13.7 points and 8.5 rebounds to earn NEWMAC Rookie of the Year honors becoming just the second Coast Guard player to win the award. Amy Harmel was NEWMAC Rookie of the Year in the 2001-2002 season.

Juniors DeCarol Davis and Corinne McCormack were solid for the Bears this season. Davis averaged 9.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.4 assist per game while McCormack had the best season of her career averaging 7.8 points and eight rebounds per game. Classmate point guard Laura Hutchinson (3.3 ppg.) led the Bears with 77 assists.

Coast Guard dropped its first two games of the season at the tough Salem State Tournament before catching fire and winning seven of its next nine games including state wins over NESCAC foe Trinity and St. Joseph. Following a loss to Springfield, the Bears won back-to-back road games at Mitchell and Wellesley to improve to 9-5, a season best four games over .500.

Following three straight losses, the Bears beat Springfield 67-59, snapping a 10-game losing streak in the series and giving the Bears their first ever win over the Pride in New London. Moyer led the way with 27 points including the 1,000th of her career.

Later in the season, Wheaton came to New London in a first place tie in the NEWMAC and the Bears knocked them out of the top spot with a 76-64 win as Moyer had 29 points, seven rebounds and seven steals.

The Bears lose just one senior in captain Claire Mielke so look for the team to be a force to be reckoned with next season.