PURCHASE, N.Y. (Jan. 17, 2026) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy women's basketball team earned a 71–57 win at Purchase on Saturday afternoon. The Mariners improved to 12-4 overall (9-2 Skyline) while the Panthers fell to 7-9 overall (6-5 Skyline).
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The Mariners had three players register double-digit scoring efforts on the afternoon. Junior Emily Grasseler (Millbrook, N.Y.) led the Mariners with her fourth straight double-double, posting 20 points and 10 rebounds and sophomore Carolae Barton (Waldorf, Md.) also put up her fourth consecutive double-double with 18 points and 10 boards. Barton also added a game-high four blocks in the contest. Junior Breanna Sommers (Casa Grande, Ariz.) added 15 points and senior Hannah Ramsden (Port Aransas, Texas) gobbled up a game-best six steals and dished out four assists.
Merchant Marine shot efficiently and controlled the interior, finishing at 44.0 percent from the field (29-of-66) while shooting 50 percent from three-point range (5-for-10) and 88.9 percent at the free-throw line (8-for-9). USMMA also held a 41–36 edge on the glass, including 19 offensive rebounds, and totaled eight blocks and 18 steals.
The Blue and Gray set the pace early behind Sommers, who opened the scoring with a jumper at 9:44 to put USMMA ahead 2–0. After Purchase answered to tie the game at 2–2 at 9:11, Grasseler scored three times in a two-minute span with layups at 8:38 and 8:08, then another finish at 7:56 to push the lead to 8–4. Sommers followed with a three at 7:10 to make it 11–7 before the Panthers trimmed the margin with a three at 6:25 to make it 13–10. Purchase later tied the game at 13–13 on a fast-break three at 5:36, but Barton answered in the paint at 5:13 to restore the lead 15-13. Merchant Marine closed the quarter with a run capped by Sommers' fast-break layup at 1:03 and Barton's finish and free throw with 24 seconds left to give them a 25–17 advantage after one.
The visitors extended the cushion early in the second quarter as Grasseler scored at 9:54 to make it 27–17, and Barton added a pair of layups at 8:41 and 8:02 to push the lead to 31–20. After Barton scored again at 7:32 and converted the free throw for a 34–22 edge, Purchase answered with a layup at 7:11. KP responded with a three-pointer from freshman Tatum Carney (Fairfax, Va.) at 6:51 and a layup at 6:25 from freshman Natalie Doan (Mount Dora, Fla.) to stretch the margin to 39–24. Purchase cut into the lead with a three-pointer at 4:19 and a fast-break layup at 2:37, but Grasseler scored twice late on an in-the-paint jumper at 1:00 and a layup with 23 seconds left to send the Mariners to halftime up 44–31.
The Mariners opened the third quarter with another surge. Barton scored inside at 9:27 to make it 46–31, then Ramsden followed with a jumper at 8:08 to keep the lead at 48–33. Grasseler added a jumper at 7:23, and Sommers drilled a three at 6:47 to push the margin to 53–33. Ramsden hit a transition three at 6:11 to extend the lead to 56–33, and Grasseler later finished inside at 3:02 for a 58–37 advantage. Junior Sydney Brown (Northville, Mich.) knocked down a three at 1:35 to make it 61–37, and USMMA would carry a 61–39 lead into the final period.
Purchase made an early fourth-quarter push, opening with a fast-break layup at 9:28 and cutting the deficit to 61–46 following a three at 8:03 and another at 6:08. Merchant Marine answered with an interior basket from Sommers at 6:34 to make it 63–46, and Barton followed with a finish in the paint at 5:11 for a 65–49 edge. Grasseler scored inside at 2:58 to make it 67–51, then added two free throws at 2:33 to push the lead back to 69–53. Ramsden converted a jumper at 1:06 to make it 71–55, and the Mariners would cruise the rest of the way to a 71–57 victory.
Halle Greaige led Purchase with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Charlee Neb added 11 points.
Merchant Marine returns to the hardwood on Wednesday, Jan. 21, against Old Westbury in Skyline Conference action at 7 p.m. at Liebertz Gymnasium.
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