Improved Bears still have room to grow

Coast Guard loses its grip on this one, heads to league play 11-4

New England 81 Coast Guard 70

New London — Coast Guard Academy has demonstrated it's a much-improved team over the course of 15 nonconference games. Results back that up.

The Bears also have shown there's still plenty room for growth. Take what transpired Thursday.

The Bears appeared in command, leading throughout the first three quarters and into the fourth before losing their grip on the game.

They were outscored 20-3 at one point and ended up dropping an 8170 decision to New England College, an NCAA qualifier last season, in their nonconference finale at Merriman Gym.

They couldn't stop senior Renee Hudson, the defending New England Collegiate Conference player of the year. Hudson poured in 38 points, including 25 points in the second half.

“We definitely gave that one away,” coach Alex Ivansheck said.

At 11-4 overall, the Bears already won four more games than last season when they went 7-18 overall.

They're better than last season for several reasons.

A number of returning players, including junior Annabella Farabaugh, sophomores Kyra Hartman and Emma Puddington and senior Brenna Wood, have improved. They've all increased their scoring averages from last season, especially Farabaugh who's gone from seven to 12.6 points.

Puddington and Farabaugh carried the Bears on Thursday, scoring a career-high 22 and 16 points, respectively. Puddington also grabbed 10 rebounds for her second double-double this season. Wood added 10 points and five steals.

“Our returning players definitely put in a lot of work,” Ivansheck said. “With a pretty big freshman class, that helps.”

The Bears added an impact player in freshman reserve Jacqueline Ward, who entered Thursday's game as the team's third-leading scorer, averaging 12.2 points per game. She scored eight points.

“We've got a nice bench,” Ivansheck said. “We almost get stronger.”

The Bears took off in the first quarter when Ward and freshman Faith Butler came off the bench. They helped fuel a 13-0 spurt that carried into the second quarter.

Puddington's inside basket on the opening possession of the second quarter increased the lead to 23-10. The Bears held a 38-29 edge at intermission.

The game tightened up significantly in the third quarter as Hudson heated up. Coast Guard hit a rut in the fourth quarter and watched its fivepoint lead melt away.

Sophomore Asia Jones (15 points) converted a driving layup to put New England College (11-4) on top for good 59-58 with seven and a half minutes left. The Bears didn't sink their first field goal until the 4:35 mark.

The deficit grew to 10 with three minutes left.

The Bears were outscored 28-12 and went 4-for-18 from the field in the final frame. They shot 37% overall and had 21 turnovers.

“We had a lot of good moments,” Ivansheck said. “I thought we were very aggressive for the majority of the game. Then when they made a little bit of a run, we didn't stop them and we became more passive. I think we started out the fourth quarter with like three 3s.

“The three quarters before we were attacking, getting to the paint and the free throw line. Then we just started jacking up 3s.”

Coast Guard will open New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference play on Saturday against Springfield, the preseason favorite. The Bears were picked to finish tied for ninth.

“It doesn't get any easier,” Ivansheck said.