CALDWELL, N.J. - Holy Family University clinched the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference regular-season title with a 64-43 victory over Caldwell College in women's basketball Friday night at the Newman Center. The loss dropped the Cougars to 9-17 overall and 8-13 in the CACC, while the Tigers improved to 21-5, 20-1 CACC.

Cold shooting by both teams kept the game close in the first half, with Holy Family shooting 40.0 percent and Caldwell shooting 30.0 percent from the field. The Tigers led by as many as 13 points, until the Cougars put together an 11-4 run to close out the half trailing 27-21.

The Cougars fought to stay in the game early, and cut the Tiger lead to 33-28 with 15:34 to go on a three-pointer from sophomore guard Shannon Coyle (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney) and a lay-up from sophomore guard Amy Ransom (Chattanooga, TN/Notre Dame). But a 15-2 spree by Holy Family, including five from Jamie Battinieri, gave the Tigers a 48-30 lead with 10:39 left. The Cougars would get no closer, as Holy Family cruised to their 16th win in 17 games.

Caldwell was led by sophomore guard Jenn Murray (Jackson, NJ/Jackson) and freshman forward Dana Leary (Bridgewater, NJ/Immaculata), pictured, who each scored 12 points. Leary grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, while freshman guard Melissa Shubiak (Manville, NJ/Immaculata) had a career-best six assists. Center Megan Bauer led all scorers with 18 points, while Battinieri added 11 points for the Tigers.

The Cougars wrap up the 2004-05 regular season tomorrow, when they play at Wilmington College at 4:00 p.m. Caldwell needs a win over the Wildcats, or a Nyack win over Post University, to qualify for the CACC Tournament.