PATCHOGUE, N.Y. (Feb. 10, 2026) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy women's basketball team used a strong second-half surge to get past a hot St. Joseph's-Long Island, 64-55, on Tuesday night at the Golden Eagles' Danzi Athletic Center. The Mariners' win improves their record to 19-4 (16-2 Skyline), while SJLI falls to 14-9 (10-8 Skyline) in defeat.
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Three Mariners scored in double-figures, as junior
Emily Grasseler (Millbrook, N.Y.) led all players on the night with 22 points to go along with nine rebounds and a team-best three assists, while sophomore
Carolae Barton (Waldorf, Md.) recorded a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 14 boards, and senior
Hannah Ramsden (Port Aransas, Texas) contributed 16 points. Sophomore
Breanna Sommers (Casa Grande, Ariz.) chipped in with six points and a career-high 13 rebounds.
St. Joe's, fresh off a home win over first-place Manhattanville this past weekend, controlled much of the early action, building a lead behind patient half-court execution and timely perimeter shooting, while USMMA worked to settle in offensively. The Golden Eagles stretched the margin into double digits during the first half, but the Mariners stayed attached by continuing to generate second-chance looks, with Barton and Grasseler keeping possessions alive inside. A late basket by Ramsden trimmed the gap heading into the break and gave KP something to build on despite trailing.
Kings Point flipped the script coming out of halftime, opening the third quarter with a quick burst that changed the tone of the game. Grasseler scored on consecutive possessions and Ramsden sparked a run with a transition jumper, as USMMA rattled off a strong stretch that erased the deficit and pushed the Mariners briefly in front. St. Joe's answered to reclaim the lead, but momentum continued to swing as Barton converted at the line and Sommers attacked the paint, setting the stage for a tightly contested final quarter.
The fourth quarter belonged to USMMA, which put together its best run of the night to take control for good. Barton finished through contact during a decisive surge, while Ramsden and Grasseler followed with timely baskets that turned a one-possession game into a comfortable margin. From there, the Mariners closed out the comeback by defending without fouling and converting at the free-throw line, securing the road win after multiple second-half lead changes.
USMMA overcame a shooting-percentage deficit by controlling the glass and winning the possession game. The Mariners shot 33.3 percent from the field and 12.5 percent from three, but made up the difference by going 16-for-18 at the free-throw line (88.9 percent) and holding a decisive 45-28 rebounding edge, including 26 offensive boards that fueled 21 second-chance points. Kings Point also capitalized on mistakes, scoring 24 points off turnovers and winning the fast-break battle 12-1, helping offset St. Joseph's efficient shooting night (43.8 percent overall, 42.1 percent from three) in a game that featured five ties and nine lead changes.
Madelyn Barone led St. Joe's with 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting to go along with four rebounds, while Gabriella Andreacchi added 13 points, including three 3-pointers. Chantelle Larbi paced the Golden Eagles on the glass with five rebounds, and Kallie Eichner contributed six assists despite the loss.
The Mariners have the weekend off from games and will return to action next Wednesday, Feb. 18, when they host first-place Manhattanville. Tip-off against the Valiants is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Liebertz Gymnasium.
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