KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Feb. 19, 2025) – Buoyed by a 15-0 run in the second quarter, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy women's basketball team notched a 74-54 victory at home against UMSV to finish a perfect 20-0 in Skyline action and extend its winning streak to 22 games. The Mariners are the first team to finish undefeated in conference play since Mount Saint Mary went 18-0 during the 2018-19 season. USMMA improved to 23-1 overall, while UMSV fell to 13-11 (11-8 Skyline).
 
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• Box Score

 
Sophomore Emily Grasseler (Millbrook, N.Y.) registered a 22-point, 16-rebound double-double to help lead the Mariners, while freshman Carolae Barton (Waldorf, Md.) added a 13-point, 22-rebound performance and was three blocks shy of a triple-double with seven on the night. Senior Grace Jackson (Parma, Idaho) made 2-of-6 3-pointers as part of a 12-point effort and classmate Kaira Winston (Chesterfield, Va.) finished with 10 points. The Mariners shot 43.5 percent (30-of-69) from the floor and 75.0 percent (12-of-16) from the line, while posting a +25 edge (59-34) on the glass. USMMA also totaled 10 blocks, including seven by Barton.
 
Erin Smith had 16 points to lead three players in double-figures for the Dolphins. UMSV shot just 27.9 percent (19-of-68) from the floor.
 
USMMA trailed, 9-8, at the 4:35 mark before going on a 7-0 run to take the lead for good. Freshman Breanna Sommers (Casa Grande, Ariz.) started the rally by converting all three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt. Grasseler and Winston then added layups as the Mariners took a 15-9 lead with just 2:26 remaining. The Dolphins followed with a pair of free throws, but Grasseler made layups on consecutive possessions to put USMMA on top, 19-11, with 56 seconds on the clock.
 
The Mariners still led by eight before UMSV drained a pair of 3-pointers that helped trim the USMMA lead to four, 26-22, at the 5:36 mark. The Dolphins, however, missed their next 12 field goal attempts and the Mariners took advantage with a 15-0 run that made it a 41-22 game with only 1:03 on the clock. UMSV eventually made a pair free throws, but also missed two more field goals as USMMA took a 43-24 lead into halftime.
 
USMMA increased its advantage to 21 points early in the third before UMSV went on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to 47-36 with 3:06 to go in the quarter. A Jackson jumper ended the scoreless stretch for the Mariners, but the Dolphins followed with a 3-pointer that made it 49-39. USMMA then scored the next four points and took a 53-41 lead into the fourth.
 
The lead was 13 when USMMA went on a 9-1 run that was capped by a Jackson 3-pointer that made it 65-44 at the 6:08 mark. UMSV made a bucket before Jackson buried another 3-pointer to start a quick 7-2 spurt that gave USMMA its largest lead of the game, a 72-48 advantage with just 3:04 left in regulation.
 
The Mariners receive a bye into the Skyline Championship Semifinals on Thursday, Feb. 27, and will host the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 First Round matchup.
 
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