NEW LONDON, Conn. – First year guard Abby Fernandes (Assonet, Mass.) recorded her first career double-double with a game-high 25 points to go with 10 rebounds in a 68-58 loss to host United States Coast Guard Academy this evening in a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference contest at Roland Gymnasium in New London, Conn. The Lyons fall to 6-13 overall and 1-7 in NEWMAC play, while the Bears improve to 12-8 and 4-3. 

Coast Guard shot just 32.8% (20-61) from the floor, but took advantage of its opportunities from the free throw line, converting 27 of 30 tries for a 90% clip. The Bears also owned a 48-38 rebounding margin. 

Fernandes added three assists, two blocks and a steal for the Lyons, while senior guard Alexis Romer (Delray Beach, Fla.) reached double-digit scoring figures for the sixth straight game with 13 points and added four steals, two rebounds and an assist.   

First year forward Glory Blethen (Boothbay, Maine) recorded her third double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 boards to go with four blocks, two assists and a pair of steals in 26 minutes off the bench for Coast Guard. Senior guard Kyra Hartman (Shillington, Pa.) also added a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds in addition to an assist and a steal, while senior guard Emma Puddington (Castorland, N.Y.) scored 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds, handed out two assists and blocked a shot. 

Wheaton jumped out to a 9-4 lead in the opening five minutes before the Bears scored seven straight for an 11-9 lead with 4:17 to play in the first quarter. Fernandes hit a jumper to reclaim the lead for the Lyons at 13-12, before Coast Guard took a 16-15 edge into the second quarter.

The Bears started the second quarter on an 8-1 run to open up a 24-16 lead with 4:52 left in the first half. Coast Guard later scored eight straight to take a 32-20 cushion with 1:42 left, before Wheaton scored the final six points of the half to pull to within 32-26 at the intermission. 

The Bears maintained their lead throughout the quarter, despite the Lyons coming within two on three occasions. Fernandes knocked down a jumper with 2:44 showing in the third quarter to cut the margin to 42-40 for Wheaton. Coast Guard scored the final nine points of the quarter, including five from Glory, to take a 51-40 advantage after three quarters of play.

Fernandes made a lay-up with 3:28 remaining in the game to cut the deficit to 58-53 for Wheaton, but Puddington and junior guard Jacqueline Ward (Brant Beach, N.J.) each made a pair of free throws to push the Bears' lead to 62-53 with under two minutes left.

The Lyons return to action on Saturday, February 12 when they travel to Wellesley, Mass. to tip-off at 1:00 p.m. with NEWMAC foe Wellesley College, while Coast Guard heads to Worcester, Mass. to play NEWMAC opponent Worcester Polytechnic Institute on the same day and time.