FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (Jan. 22, 2025) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy women's basketball team defeated Farmingdale State, 64-56, to secure its 14th-straight win, matching a program-record set in the 2022-23 season. USMMA improved to 15-1 (12-0 Skyline), while Farmingdale State dropped to 10-7 (7-5 Skyline).
 
Game Link

• Box Score 

Freshman Carolae Barton (Waldorf, Md.) had a 12-point, 14-rebound double-double to lead USMMA. Sophomore Emily Grasseler (Millbrook, N.Y.) had 12 points and nine rebounds, while senior Kaira Winston (Chesterfield, Va.) had 10 points and nine assists. Senior Grace Jackson (Parma, Idaho) made 3-of-6 3-pointers as part of a 10-point effort. The Mariners shot 45.6 percent (26-of-57) from the floor and posted a +20 margin (54-34) on the glass.
 
Erin Conte and Alexandria Walbroehl scored nine points apiece for Farmingdale State. The Rams shot just 25.7 percent (19-of-74) from the floor and made just 6-of-26 3-pointers (23.1 percent).
 
Barton opened the game with a pair of layups, but the Rams answered with a 9-2 run that made it a 9-6 game at the 3:26 mark. Freshman Breanna Sommers (Casa Grande, Ariz.) promptly leveled the score with a 3-pointer before junior Hannah Ramsden (Port Aransas, Texas) put the Mariners back on top with a jumper. After the Rams tied the game at 11-11, Grasseler made a pair of free throws and the Mariners led, 13-12, after 10 minutes of action.
 
Barton pushed the lead to five points with a pair of layups to open the second quarter, but the Rams followed with a 3-pointer that made it 17-15 at the 9:03 mark. Jackson then made a pair of 3-pointers to jumpstart a 10-0 run that put USMMA up, 27-15, with just 2:56 left in the half. A layup from senior Abby Stramski (Jones, Okla.) made it 29-17 at the break.
 
The Rams closed to within 10 before a Grasseler layup and another Jackson 3 extended the lead to 34-19 with 7:17 remaining. The Mariners led by 12 when Grasseler scored four points as part of an 8-0 run that gave USMMA its largest lead of the game, a 42-22 advantage with 3:55 to play. The Rams followed with a 10-4 run, but a Stramski jumper in the final minute made it 48-32 after three quarters.
 
After a Grasseler layup opened the fourth, the Rams pulled to within 50-38 on a 3-pointer and a layup-and-one. The Mariners promptly scored the next six points to push the lead right back to 56-38 with exactly 7:00 on the clock. The Rams, however, followed with a 10-0 run that cut the USMMA lead all the way down to eight, 56-48, with just 3:43 to go. The Rams got as close as five, 61-56, with 45 seconds left, but USMMA made 3-of-6 free throws down the stretch for the final 64-56 margin.
 
The Mariners return home to host Yeshiva on Sunday, Jan. 26, at noon.
 
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