KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Feb. 1, 2025) – Led by an offense that shot 50.7 percent from the floor and a defense that allowed just eight total field goals, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy women's basketball team earned its 17th-straight victory with an 86-24 triumph at home against Purchase. USMMA improved to 18-1 (15-0 Skyline), while Purchase fell to 4-16 (3-12 Skyline).
 
Game Links

• Box Score
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Jayna McIntyre 

Freshman Jayna McIntyre (Scranton, Pa.) made 4-of-6 3-pointers as part of a game-high 16-point effort to pace the Mariners. Senior McKenzie Cassingham (Shasta Lake, Calif.), sophomore Emily Grasseler (Millbrook, N.Y.) and freshman Carolae Barton (Waldorf, Md.) finished with 12 points apiece. Twelve different players found the scoring column for USMMA, which made 8-of-19 3-pointers (42.1 percent) and finished 35-of-69 from the field overall.
 
The Mariners posted a +22 edge (48-26) on the glass and added a 29-2 margin in points off turnovers. Every single player that dressed scored a point for the Mariners and the bench accounted for 53 of the 86 points. Freshman Breanna Sommers (Casa Grande, Ariz.) added nine points, sophomore Trinity Santasiero (Houston, Texas) scored seven and classmate Sydney Brown (Northville, Mich.) chipped in with five points to go along with six rebounds. Junior Cevyn Crutcher (Huntsville, Ala.) led all players with seven rebounds.
 
Jessica McHugh scored a team-high nine points for Purchase. The Panthers shot just 17.4 percent (8-of-46) from the floor and committed 22 turnovers.
 
A layup from senior Kaira Winston (Chesterfield, Va.) just eight seconds into the game gave the Mariners the lead for good. USMMA eventually jumped out to an 8-0 advantage before the Panthers scored their first basket at the 7:17 mark. The Panthers made it 12-4 with 4:47 remaining before five different Mariners scored as part of a 10-0 run that closed out the quarter and made it 22-4 after 10 minutes.
 
After the teams traded baskets to open the second, 3-pointers from freshman Sommers and Cassingham helped key a 10-1 rally that gave USMMA a 34-7 lead with 5:50 on the clock. The Panthers followed with a 3-pointer of their own, but a 3 from Santasiero capped an 11-0 run to end the quarter and put the Mariners up, 45-10, at the break.
 
Grasseler scored four points early in the third as part of an 8-0 run that put the Mariners up, 55-11, at the 5:39 mark. McIntyre later drained a pair of 3-pointers to lead a 9-1 run that made it a 68-16 ballgame through three quarters.
 
McIntyre buried another trey as USMMA opened the fourth with five-straight points. The Panthers answered with a 3-pointer, but 3-pointers from McIntyre and Cassingham led a 13-2 run that gave USMMA a 65-point advantage, 86-21, with only 1:19 remaining in the game.
 
The Mariners visit Old Westbury on Wednesday, Feb. 5, for a 7 p.m. game.
 
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