KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Nov. 12, 2025) - The USMMA women's basketball team cruised to a 78-39 home victory over non-conference opponent Baruch College on Wednesday night in the Mariners' home-opener at the Liebertz Gymnasium. The victory was the first of the season for Merchant Marine, as its record moves to 1-1, while the Bearcats fell to 0-3 in defeat.
 
Game Links

• Box Score
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Emily Grasseler 

Junior Emily Grasseler (Millbrook, N.Y.) led all players in the game with 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting and added 10 rebounds for a double-double, along with three steals and three assists. Sophomore Breanna Sommers (Casa Grande, Ariz.) scored 16 points and pulled down seven rebounds, while senior Hannah Ramsden (Port Aransas, Texas) added 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Sophomore Carolae Barton (Waldorf, Md.) rounded out the Mariners' double-digit scorers with 14 points to go along with seven rebounds and three steals in just 15 minutes.
 
USMMA took control immediately, opening the game on a 22-5 first-quarter run behind efficient scoring from Grasseler, Barton, and senior Ramsden. The Mariners scored 14 points in the paint in the period and forced eight early turnovers, with Sommers and freshman Jaden Lodice (Littleton, Colo.) adding baskets in transition to help extend the lead. Defensively, USMMA held Baruch without a field goal for more than six minutes while generating multiple second-chance opportunities.
 
The Mariners continued to add to the margin in the second quarter, building a 38-16 halftime lead. Grasseler powered the offense with inside scoring and second-chance points, while freshman Natalie Doan (Mount Dora, Fla.) and junior Sydney Brown (Northville, Mich.) provided stops and rebounds off the bench. Sommers and Barton added layups during a 12-2 stretch, and Ramsden converted a fast-break layup late in the half as USMMA maintained its pace on both ends.
 
USMMA opened the third quarter with baskets from Ramsden and Barton and pushed the lead past 30 as Grasseler continued to finish at the rim. Sommers and Ramsden each connected from three during the period, while Brown and Doan helped limit Baruch to single possessions. The Mariners maintained control throughout the fourth, getting a three from Lodice and scoring in transition through Sommers and sophomore Tatum Carney (Fairfax, Va.) to close out the win.
 
USMMA finished the game shooting 41.5 percent from the field while holding Baruch to 18.5 percent overall and just 4-of-14 from three-point range. The Mariners controlled the interior with a 50-4 advantage in points in the paint and added an 18-5 margin in second-chance points behind a 58-41 edge on the glass. USMMA also scored 24 points off 20 Baruch turnovers and generated 14 fast-break points. Baruch held a slight 8-6 advantage in bench scoring.
 
Baruch was led by Lola Idir, who scored 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting and 4-of-8 from three-point range while adding six rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 36 minutes. I. Kostyal-Larrier added nine points, six rebounds, and two steals while going 7-of-8 at the free-throw line. Lillianna Morales contributed seven points and five rebounds off the bench, and Precious Mitchell finished with one point and eight rebounds.
 
Up next, the Mariners will travel to Old Westbury next Wednesday night, Nov. 19, for their Skyline-opener against the Panthers which will begin at 6 p.m. at the Clark Athletic Center.

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