NEW LONDON, CT - The third-ranked Smith basketball team remained unbeaten to open NEWMAC play, as the Bears posted a 76-48 victory at Coast Guard Saturday afternoon. Smith improves to 14-0 on the year and 1-0 in the NEWMAC, while CGA falls to 8-7, 0-1 in conference play.

Smith opened the game with an aggressive offensive display, jumping to a 29-6 lead by the end of the first quarter. Uta Nakamura (Manhattan, NY/Long Island Lutheran) set the tone early with a three-pointer at 9:19, assisted by Ella Sylvester (Everett, WA/Everett). Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) contributed significantly, scoring two 3-pointers, one at 7:54 and another at 7:14, with assists from Selam Maher (St.Louis Park, MN/St. Louis Park) and Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA/North Andover), respectively. The Bears smothered Coast Guard, as Taylor Lynch scored their first points at 4:40, but the Bears' defense, highlighted by Johnson's block at 6:56, kept them at bay. Martin closed the quarter with back-to-back layups, including a fast-break at 0:13, solidifying a commanding lead for the Bears.

Smith edged the CGA in the second quarter, outscoring the home team 16-15. Johnson made an impactful 3-pointer at 9:12, assisted by Kate Hackney (Thousand Oaks, CA/Bishop Alemany), contributing to the Bears' lead. Felicia Fongemie (Ashford, CT/Marianapolis Prep) capitalized on fast breaks, scoring a layup and converting a free throw after a foul by Ruby Miller at 7:42, extending the Bears' advantage. Despite Coast Guard's efforts, including a 3-pointer from Colleen Finnegan at 3:33, Smith maintained their lead with Martin's jumper closing the quarter at 21 seconds, securing a one-point edge.

The Bears extended their lead early in the third quarter with a 3-pointer from Maher, assisted by Martin, at 9:47. Nakamura's steal and layup at 9:35 pushed the score to 50-21. Coast Guard responded with Finnegan's layup at 8:05, narrowing the gap slightly. Despite Coast Guard's attempts to rally, Smith maintained control, with Martin converting a free throw with 2 seconds left to conclude the quarter at 60-34 in favor of the Bears.

The Bears secured a decisive victory over Coast Guard, finishing the fourth quarter with a 16-14 edge to solidify the win. Fongemie opened the period by converting two free throws, quickly extending the Bears' lead. Ella Andrews (Boxford, MA/Dexter Southfield) contributed significantly with a layup and a free throw to push the score further. Maggie Fleming (Downers Grove, IL/Downers Grove) added to the tally with a pair of free throws at the 4:09 mark, while Jillian Nowicki's (San Diego, CA/Our Lady of Peace) 3-pointer at 3:36 widened the gap. Coast Guard attempted to rally with a late 3-pointer by Ruby Miller, but the Bears had control of the game.

Smith Top Performers
Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA/North Andover)  
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- 16 points  
- 7/12 field goals made  
- 5 rebounds  

Uta Nakamura (Manhattan, NY/Long Island Lutheran)  
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- 13 points  
- 6/10 field goals made  
- 4 rebounds  

Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest)  
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- 9 points  
- 8 rebounds  
- 1 block  

Felicia Fongemie (Ashford, CT/Marianapolis Prep)  
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- 10 points  
- 4/5 free throws made  
- 2 steals  

Up Next
Smith travels to Tufts University on Tuesday, January 20 at 7:00pm for its final non-conference game of the regular season. 

About Smith Athletics: Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information log onto GoSmithBears.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram