CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College women's basketball team lost to N.J.I.T., 70-52 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Tuesday evening at the George R. Newman Center. The defeat dropped the Cougars to 4-7 overall and 3-3 in the conference, while the Highlanders improved to 5-7, 4-3 in the CACC.

N.J.I.T. built an early six-point lead in the game's first five minutes as the Cougars failed to make a field goal until a lay-up by freshman forward Dana Leary (Bridgewater, NJ/Immaculata), pictured, cut the Highlander lead to 11-7 at the 14:31 mark. NJIT led by as many as 10 points in the first half, and held a 29-19 advantage with 5:09 left in the half. But the Cougars closed out the half with a 10-4 run, including four points from sophomore guard Shannon Coyle (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney), as the Highlanders took a 33-29 lead into halftime.

A strong start to the second half by N.J.I.T. allowed the Highlanders to increase their lead to 11 with 15:08 remaining. Five points from Coyle, including a three-pointer, and a basket by freshman guard Phylicia Holmes (Roselle, NJ/Roselle) got the Cougars to within 45-40 at the 13:48 mark. But a 12-2 run by N.J.I.T. put the game out of reach for the Cougars, who were 10-of-23 from the field in the second half.

Coyle led the Cougars with 14 points and three steals, while Leary finished with 12 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field. Sophomore guard Jenn Murray (Jackson, NJ/Jackson) grabbed a team-high nine rebounds to go with six points. Center Emese Gyuricza tallied a career-high 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting, and guard Jackie McCaffrey recorded 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Highlanders.

The Cougars are back in action this Thursday, Jan. 13, when they play at Dominican College at 6:00 p.m.