CALDWELL, N.J. - The University of Sciences outscored the Caldwell College women's basketball team 54-28 in the second half to overcome a 13-point halftime deficit and defeat the Cougars 77-64 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Saturday afternoon at the George R. Newman Center. The loss dropped the Cougars to 3-10 overall and 3-7 in the CACC, while the Devils improved to 8-4 and 7-2 in the conference.

With the game close for the first 10 minutes of the game, the Cougars scored eight straight points to grab a 26-16 lead with six minutes left in the first half. Caldwell maintained the lead for the rest of the half, and took a 36-23 advantage into the break after a three-pointer by freshman guard Laura Ciesla (Chicago, IL/Lane Tech). Caldwell shot 50.0 percent from the field compared to 32.1 percent for USP in the first half.

The Devils quickly changed things in their favor in the second half, opening up with a 17-4 run in the first six minutes to tie the game at 40-40. Allison Weiss had six points in the run as the Devils made their first six shots of the half. Sophomore forward Dana Leary (Bridgewater, NJ/Immaculata) converted a three-point play to regain the lead, 43-40. A pair of baskets by Shelby Rance gave USP its first lead of the second half. The Cougars came back and tied the game at 48-48 with 8:40 remaining on a lay-up by junior forward Amy Gaudious (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch). But the Devils broke open the game with a 13-2 spurt that put USP ahead 61-50 with 3:39 on the clock. The Cougars would get no closer than eight as the Devils closed out the game making 16 straight attempts from the foul line, including 10 by Rance. The Devils made 61.5 percent from the floor and went 21-of-21 from the charity stripe in the second half

Sophomore forward Melissa Freeman (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill), pictured, scored 16 points to pace the Cougars, while junior guard Shannon Coyle (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney) and Gaudious had 12 and 11 points, respectively. Rance finished with a game-high 24 points, and Leah Shumoski added 15 points and 15 rebounds for USP.

Next up for the Cougars is a home conference game with Post University on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in the Newman Center.