For Immediate Release
December 9, 2009
Wellesley Sports Information
Courtesy Coast Guard Sports Information
Wellesley Basketball Falls in Nailbiter at Coast Guard
NEW LONDON, Conn. - Coast Guard scored the final 11 points of the game, nine of them by Melissa Martinelli, as the Bears came-from-behind to stun Wellesley 47-44 in a New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) g ame, the final game of the semester for Coast Guard.
Martinelli had 14 of her team-high 16 points and nine of her team-high 11 rebounds in the second half after picking up two quick fouls and playing just four minutes in the first half.
Wellesley appeared to have the game when when it took a 44-36 lead on a 3-pointer by Judine St. Gerard with 4:17 left, but the Bears would score the final 11 points.
Coast Guard took the lead 45-44 on a layup by Martinelli with 1:10 left, she then made a pair of free throws with one second left to give the Bears the win. It was the Bears first lead since 17-16 with 5:11 left in the first half.
Wellesley (2-6, 0-3) led 24-20 at halftime behind 11 points from Robyn Burleson, who finished with a game-high 18 points. The Blue shot 32 percent in the first half (8-25), but just 25 percent (7-28) in the second half to finish 15 of 53 from the floor (28.3 percent) while making seven of 17 from 3-point range.
Becca Kimball was also in double figures for the Blue with 13 points.
Coast Guard (3-3, 2-1) shot 37.5 percent from the field (37.5 percent) and connected on two of six from 3-point range. The Bears outrebounded the Blue 43-30.
Karli Collins added 10 points and eight rebounds while Vanessa Sillman had four steals for the Bears.