01/26/2008
Coast Guard Outlasts Women's Basketball in 2OT

WORCESTER, MASS. 1/26/08 - Not even one extra period was enough to decide Saturday's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference game between Clark University and the United States Coast Guard Academy. Coast Guard outlasted Clark in an 86-76 double-overtime decision.

The loss marks Clark's third straight as they fall to 6-10 (2-3 NEWMAC) while Coast Guard stays undefeated (6-0) in conference play (13-2 overall).

Sarah Roderigue (Oakland, Me.) scored a season-high 28 points in the loss. Sara Hagstrom (Yarmouth, Me.) added 11 points with six assists for the Cougars. Melissa Martinelli (Vero Beach, Fla.) put up a career-high 32 points with 15 rebounds and Natalie Moyer (Oklahoma City, Ok.) reached a season-high with 30 points to guide the Bears to victory.

The opening of the game was tightly played as neither team could get a lead larger than five points in the first ten minutes. Coast Guard took an early 6-3 lead on a lay-up from Moyer, but consecutive three-point baskets from Roderigue and Sara Hagstrom (Yarmouth, Me.) gave the Cougars a three point advantage, their only lead in the half. Coast Guard slowly worked its way to a 13 point edge capped by a jumper from Martinelli, but two baskets from Roderigue moved Clark within single digits (36-27) at the half.

Martinelli opened the second period with a lay-up for the Bears, but Clark stormed back with 13 unanswered points to take the 40-38 lead, capped by a three-pointer from Nicole LeVecque (Billerica, Mass.). The Cougars gained a seven point lead (51-44) with back-to-back threes from Katie McCloskey (Wilbraham, Mass.) and Hagstrom, but Coast Guard surged back to tie the game at 62 all when Corinne McCormack worked her way inside for the lay-up with 6.5 seconds left.

In the first overtime Martinelli notched eight points to pace the Bears. A clutch three from Kristin Healy (Brookline, Mass.) kept Clark on par and a pair of free throws from Roderigue with 20 seconds left knotted the score at 72 and extended the game with a second extra period.

Martinelli and Moyer teamed up for five unanswered points to start the second overtime, and Clark was unable to keep pace. Coast Guard closed out the game with free throws to finalize the bout at 86-76.

The Cougars made 13 three-point baskets in the game, going 9-16 in the second half. Coast Guard ruled the paint with 34 points inside to Clark's six.

Clark continues conference play against Springfield College at home on Wednesday (7 pm) while Coast Guard heads to the United States Merchant Marine Academy the same day (7 pm).

By: Bill Cobb, Sports Information Intern