Holliday scores 15 in season opener

Wheelock guard Joy Holliday scored a team-high 15 points, but she was the only Wildcat in double-digits as the Wildcats fell to the United States Coast Guard Academy 54-34 Tuesday night. The Bears were led by Melissa Martinelli who scored a game-high 24 points, going 10-14 from the field and pulling down 11 boards.

The scoring got off to a slow start, with both teams combining for only 11 points in the first nine minutes of play. Wheelock led throughout the first five minutes of the game seniors Elise Ordile and Kerry Casey combining for the 4-0 advantage. The Wildcats would lead the game only once more, when Holliday connected on a jumper to give her team a 13-11 lead with 6:48 remaining in the first half. The Bears answered on their next possession when Rebekah Siefer nailed a triple to give the Coast Guard Academy a lead it would never relinquish. At the half, Wheelock trailed by only four points.

The second half was all Bears, as they opened up with a 6-2 run in the first two minutes to put the lead into double digits. The Wildcats fought to within six points on another Holliday jumper with 12:13 remaining, but the Coast Guard Academy answered with a 20-4 run to put the game out of reach.

The Bears' Karli Collins was also in double-digits with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Ordile led Wheelock in rebounds with seven. The win improves the Bears record to 1-0 on the season, while Wheelock falls to 1-0.