CALDWELL, N.J. - Despite trailing at halftime, the Caldwell College women's basketball team defeated Wilmington College, 57-52 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Saturday night at the George R. Newman Center. With the win, the Cougars improved to 2-4 overall and in the conference, while the Wildcats fell to 0-6 on the season, including an 0-4 mark in the CACC.

The first half was close throughout, with nine lead changes and six ties. With the score tied at 20-20, Wilmington's Katelin Klingert and Caldwell junior guard Shannon Coyle (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney) exchanged three-pointers to make the score 23-23 at the 5:41 mark. The Wildcats closed out the half with an 8-4 run to take a 31-27 advantage into the break. Barbara Fleming scored 11 points, including three three-pointers, to pace Wilmington in the first half.

Coyle got the Cougars off to a good start in the second half with a three that cut the lead to 31-30. After a Wildcat basket by Tashay Johnson, Sophomore forward Melissa Freeman (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill), pictured, made two straight field goals to put the Cougars up 34-33 with 17:45 to play. The two teams then went the next 5:31 without a basket, with Caldwell making three free throws during that span to increase its lead to 37-33. Junior forward Amy Gaudious (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) converted a conventional three-point play to give the Cougars their biggest lead, 40-33 with 12:02 remaining. Four consecutive free throws over the next three possessions by Nordia Henry brought Wilmington to within 42-39, but Caldwell responded with a three-pointer by freshman guard Laura Ciesla (Chicago, IL/Lane Tech) at the 9:42 mark. 

From that point, Wilmington regained control of the game with a 7-0 run for a 48-45 advantage. The Cougars responded by scoring five of the next seven points to tie the game at 50-50 with 4:36 left. After three empty possessions for both teams, Freeman grabbed a rebound off a missed free throw and scored a lay-up to give her team a 52-50 lead with 2:17 on the clock. Henry's basket tied the game at 52-52, then sophomore forward Dana Leary (Bridgewater, NJ/Immaculata) put Caldwell back on top with a lay-up with just over a minute remaining. Wilmington missed their next three field goal attempts and the Cougars hit three free throws to seal the victory.

Freeman led Caldwell with 12 points, two blocks and a career-high five steals, while Coyle had 11 points and Leary finished with 10 in the win. Henry recorded 14 points and 10 boards for Wilmington.

The Cougars are back in action on Saturday, Dec. 17, when they host Felician College in a CACC battle. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. in the Newman Center.