Two between-the-leg dribbles seamlessly transitioned into a swift crossover and left the defender staggering. Junior guard Bri Frongillo cut into the lane, releasing a high-arcing floater. The ball, bearing the weight of every pair of eyes in the stadium, swished through the net.

What followed was the sound of the buzzer, sealing the final score at 93-91, and a wave of cheers erupted in the Bobbi Brown & Steven Plofker Gym. Frongillo’s game-winner gave her a career-high 44 points, breaking her own school record of 40 set last season. Her performance helped the Emerson women’s basketball team beat the Coast Guard Bears on Jan. 25 for the first time since 2019.

“I told the kids in the locker room, even if we had not pulled it out, I couldn’t have been more proud of this team,” said head coach Bill Gould.

“Last year, we lost a lot of close games, and I think the difference this year is that we weren’t going to let that happen anymore,” Frongillo said. “We knew when we close that gap, we are going to pull this one out. I think it was just a matter of willpower and determination for us.”

The game was intense right from the start as both teams were eager to find their rhythm. The Lions kept up with the Bears’ pace for the majority of the first period, but Coast Guard utilized their height advantage, scoring many shots with high-release-point jumpers. The Bears established a 10-point lead by the end of the quarter.

The Lions quickly adjusted their strategy in the second period, attempting to narrow the gap through bench depth and frequent rotations—typically a strength of this team.

However, the usually effective strategy seemed pale in the face of the Bears, as the Lions only scored two points off the bench. The Bears continued to capitalize on their height advantage. Despite the Lions’ efforts to close the gap, the Bears led 50-33 with 47 seconds left in the second quarter. Frongillo made two free throws by the end of the quarter to cut the lead to 15.

“We weren’t good in the first half. I think we got a little shell-shocked,” said Gould. “They [Coast Guard Bears] were unbelievable in the first 25 minutes of the game. We had no answer.”

The Lions had lost by 27 points when they played the Bears a year ago in New London, Conn. 

However, the second half of this game was nothing short of a comeback.

The Lions still struggled a bit in the third quarter. While the Bears’ shooting accuracy slightly decreased, their strong tactical execution and off-ball movement kept the Lions struggling to keep up. The Lions had multiple defensive lapses in the third period, many of which occurred under the basket.

The Lions displayed their ability to adjust during halftime as the tide completely turned in the fourth quarter

“I think we just knew we could come back. And the trust that we have in each other is unmatched,” said forward Charlotte Levison, who had 14 points, six rebounds, and all three of the team’s blocks. “I think it was really the defense in the second half that made us say, ‘Nobody is scoring on us.’ That mentality really saved us in the end.”

While Levison put up an impressive defensive performance, everyone else on the team also contributed. The number of turnovers and defensive lapses visibly decreased in the fourth.

“We made some key defensive plays, but really, we won the game on the offensive end,” said Gould.

On top of her 44 points, Frongillo also tallied 12 assists. She and freshman guard Jessie Silk frequently drove into the paint, drawing fouls and earning free-throw opportunities. Center Claire English’s late fourth-quarter steal led to a successful two-point jumper by Frongillo, who tied the game at 80 with 3:39 left in the game.

The final three minutes showcased the Lions’ teamwork. Levison delivered a crucial block and multiple rebounds. English also contributed with rebounds. Frongillo and Silk made key free throws. Silk recorded a critical steal with 38 seconds left, leading to two made free throws. Sophomore guard Kendra Dodd hit a clutch three-pointer with 18 seconds remaining.

The Coast Guard Bears, however, fought to the end, quickly eliminating the Lions’ lead with a layup in the paint. The game ended with Frongillo’s floater from the left wing, sealing the comeback victory.

“She is just crazy, but she plays with such humility. She could score zero points, and if we win, she would still be happy,” Levison said. “We all rallied behind her, and we do what we can to help her out.”

Levison called Frongillo the best teammate she has ever played with in her career.

This marked the Lions’ fourth win against the Coast Guard Bears in 15 games. The Lions now hold a 7-1 record at home and are 3-0 in NEWMAC play.

“I don’t really think there is [a ceiling], because we know we still have so much more work to do, and we can get so much better,” Levison said. “And we are also so young, there’s so much learning every day.”

The Lions will face Salve Regina on Jan. 29 in an away game at 7:30 p.m.