BLOOMFIELD, N.J. - Bloomfield College overcame a 17-point first-half deficit to down Caldwell College in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference women's basketball game Saturday afternoon. The loss drops the Cougars to 6-11 overall and 5-7 in the CACC, while the Deacons improve to 12-6 overall, 11-2 in conference play.

The Cougars started the game with a 24-8 run and led by as many as 17 points after a three-pointer by sophomore guard Shannon Coyle (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney) made it 29-12 with 3:49 left in the half. Bloomfield cut into the Caldwell lead before halftime as the Cougars went into the break leading 33-20. Caldwell held the Deacons to just 27.6 percent shooting from the field while making 44.8 percent of their field goal attempts in the first half.

The second half was a different story, as poor shooting and turnovers allowed Bloomfield to get back into the game. A 15-1 Deacon run that including seven missed shots from the floor and nine turnovers gave Bloomfield a 35-34 lead with 11:46 left in the game. Sophomore guard Jenn Murray (Jackson, NJ/Jackson) ended the drought with a three-pointer that gave the Cougars a brief 37-35 advantage. The lead would change hands four times before Caldwell built a five-point lead after freshman forward Dana Leary (Bridgewater, NJ/Immaculata) converted a lay-up to make it 46-41 with 4:10 remaining. But Marissa Franklin scored all seven Bloomfield points in a 7-1 run that gave the home team a 48-47 lead with 21 seconds left on the clock. In the game's final seconds, the Cougars had an opportunity to take the lead at the free throw line, but they missed both attempts.

Murray was the Cougars high scorer with nine points, while she and Leary each grabbed eight boards. Leary, Coyle and freshman forward Cecilia Green (Willingboro, NJ/Linden) scored eight points apiece in the loss. Franklin led all scorers with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

The Cougars return to action Thursday, Feb. 3, when they play at Post University at 6:00 p.m.