KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Jan. 28, 2026) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy women's basketball team earned a 61-47 victory over Farmingdale State on Wednesday evening in Skyline Conference action at Liebertz Gymnasium. The Mariners improved to 15-4 overall (12-2 Skyline) while the Rams fell to 9-10 overall (7-7 Skyline).
Game Links
Three Mariners finished the evening in double figures, and two recorded double-doubles. Junior Emily Grasseler (Millbrook, N.Y.) led the Mariners on offense with a game-high 20 points and grabbed 14 boards, tying another game-best. Sophomore Carolae Barton (Waldorf, Md.) put up a double-double, scoring 16 points and hauling down a game-high tied 14 rebounds. Senior Hannah Ramsden (Port Aransas, Texas) entered the contest needing just seven points to reach the 1,000-point plateau and finished the night with 11 points.
Sophomore Breanna Sommers (Casa Grande, Ariz.) and Grasseler also turned away a game-best two shots each, while Sommers had a solid night all around with seven points, six boards and a career-high seven assists.
Merchant Marine finished 26-of-68 (38.2%) from the field and 5-of-14 (35.7%) from three, while holding Farmingdale State to 20-of-62 (32.3%) shooting and 1-of-9 (11.1%) from deep. USMMA controlled the glass, 52-34, including 22 offensive rebounds
The Blue and Gray set the tone early, jumping out in front behind a Sommers three at 8:21 and a Grasseler finish in the paint at 7:50 to go up 5-0. Freshman Jaden Lodice (Littleton, Colo.) drilled a three-pointer at 7:05 to make it 8-0, and after Farmingdale State got on the board, Barton scored twice inside at 6:28 and 5:00 as the Mariners pushed the lead to 12-4. Sommers added a jumper at 4:21, and Grasseler knocked down a pull-up at 2:22 as the hosts carried a 16-4 advantage after one.
The Mariners extended the margin in the second quarter. Lodice finished at the rim at 9:18, and Barton converted a pair at the line at 8:56 to stretch the lead to 20-4. Grasseler scored twice in the paint at 8:19 and 5:26 and added a jumper at 5:53, while Ramsden buried a three at 3:51 to stretch the advantage to 23 points, KP's largest of the game, to make it 33-10. Farmingdale State trimmed the deficit late, but USMMA still went to halftime in front, 35-18.
Farmingdale State opened the third quarter with a push, scoring the first five points to cut it to 35-20 at 9:52, then pulling within 37-25 after a free throw at 7:33. USMMA answered with Ramsden's three at 6:12 and a Grasseler layup at 5:28, then Barton went 2-for-2 at the stripe at 4:59 to make it 44-25. The Rams continued to chip away, but baskets from Barton at 1:47 and Grasseler at 1:14 helped the Mariners take a 50-36 lead into the fourth.
USMMA maintained control in the final period. Senior Cevyn Crutcher (Huntsville, Ala.) hit a jumper at 9:22, and Grasseler finished inside at 8:05 to increase the lead to 16, 54-38, and 6:36 to stretch it further to 18, 56-38. Barton scored on the block at 4:13 to make it 58-38, and after Farmingdale State answered, Ramsden knocked down a three at 3:26 to push it to 61-40. The Rams closed with a few late baskets, but the Mariners were able to hold them off for a 61-47 win.
Shyann Parker and Mia Simmons led Farmingdale State with 12 points apiece.
Merchant Marine hits the hardwood again on Sunday, Feb. 1, on the road against Yeshiva in Skyline action at Baruch's ARC Arena in Manhattan.
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