New London, Conn. – The Lasell University Lasers women's basketball team struggled out of the gates in their season opener against the Coast Guard Academy Bears, 93-48, Monday at Roland Gymnasium.

This was the first game for the Lasers in nearly two years, with the last game coming at home on February 18th, 2019, when they clashed with Emmanuel College.

Freshman Juju Nealy (Fitchburg, Mass.) led the game with 21 points and added five steals to her debut performance.

Freshman Kelly Hagerty (Emerald Isle, N.C.) led the Bears in scoring with 17 points in 17 minutes off the bench. Senior Emma Puddington (Castorland, N.Y.) had a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomore Kira Wood (Seattle, Wash.) scored 12 points and senior Kyra Hartman (Shillington, Pa.) scored 11 points. Freshman Julia Mann (Central Square, N.Y.) grabbed 10 rebounds and was one point away from a double-double.

Lasers held tough through the first five minutes of the game when they drew even on a Nealy three with 4:56 left in the first. After that point the Bears went on a 14-0 run to end the quarter.

Hagerty scored eight of her 17 points in the second quarter to help Coast Guard open a 48-22 lead at halftime.

Nine of Nealy's 21 points came in the third quarter but Coast Guard opened the score to 75-34.

Coast Guard had the edge in field goal percentage shooting 43.2 percent and three-point percentage shooting 23.5 percent compared to 28.3 percent from the field for Lasell and 13.6 percent from deep. The Bears also had a 68 to 29 on the glass.

The Lasers will be back in action Friday, November 19 when they travel to Farmington, Maine for the NAC vs GNAC Challenge. The are scheduled to take on University of Maine at Presque Isle at 5:30 p.m.