NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Caldwell College women's basketball team closed out its non-conference schedule with a 78-31 loss at Southern Connecticut State Thursday evening at Moore Fieldhouse. The Cougars dropped to 3-6 on the season, while the Owls improved to 6-2.

The Owls, who compete in the Northeast-10 Conference, pulled away early in the contest, holding the Cougars to just nine points for almost 17 minutes. Southern held a 40-13 lead at halftime after shooting 16-of-23 from the field. A free throw by sophomore guard Amy Ransom (Chattanooga, TN/Notre Dame) in the first minute of the second half cut the lead to 26 points, but the Cougars would get no closer. The Owls, who led all NCAA Division II schools in scoring defense last season, limited Caldwell to 21 percent shooting from the field for the game and held a 46-25 advantage in rebounds. They are allowing just 47.5 points per game this season.

Sophomore guard Shannon Coyle (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney), pictured, led the Cougars with eight points, while freshman Melissa Freeman (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) grabbed a team-high six rebounds in the loss. Forward Rochelle Johnson recorded 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Owls.

The Cougars who are 2-2 in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, return to CACC play on Thursday, Jan. 6, when they host Georgian Court at the George R. Newman Center. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.