PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Sophomore forward Mackenzie Lynch (Wayne, NJ/DePaul Catholic) recorded career-highs of 44 points and 22 rebounds to carry the Caldwell College women's basketball team to an 82-72 overtime victory over the University of Sciences in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest Saturday afternoon at Bobby Morgan Arena. The Cougars out-scored the Devils 14-4 during the overtime period to even their conference record at 2-2 and improve to 3-5 overall. USP, the defending CACC Tournament champions, drop to 3-4 overall and 1-4 in the CACC.
The Cougars trailed for almost the entire first half as USP led by as many as eight points. Baskets by juniors Melissa Freeman (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) and Dana Leary (Bridgewater, NJ/Immaculata) in the final minute of the half cut the Devils' lead to 28-26 at the break. Lynch scored 16 points in the first half despite sitting out five minutes after picking up two early fouls.
Lynch helped Caldwell get off to a good start in the second half, scoring the team's first nine points while making all four of her attempts from the field. Her conventional three-point play at the 15:11 mark tied the game at 35-35, then a lay-up by Leary gave the Cougars their first lead since early in the first half. Caldwell maintained the upper hand for most of the half and built a seven-point lead, 64-57 with 3:15 remaining. But a 9-2 run by the Devils knotted the game at 66-66 with just over a minute to play. Freeman scored on the Cougars' next possession, but Rashanna Edwards answered with 32 seconds left to tie the score at 68-68 and send the game into overtime.
Again Lynch sparked the Cougars to start the extra period, making a pair of baskets in the first minute of overtime. Senior guard Shannon Coyle (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney) followed with a conventional three-point play to give Caldwell a commanding 77-70 advantage with 2:31 on the clock. Coyle and Lynch each scored six points to combine to score 12 of the Cougars' 14 points in overtime as Caldwell earned its second win in three games.
Lynch was nearly perfect in the second half and overtime period, going 10-of-11 from the floor and 8-of-8 from the free throw line. For the game, Lynch shot 72.7 percent (16-of-22) from the field while making all 12 attempts from the charity stripe. The Cougars shot a season-best 91.3 percent (21-of-23) from the line. Freeman (left) recorded her first double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 boards, while Coyle finished with 11 points. USP's Shelby Rance scored 24 points to lead the Devils.
Next up for Caldwell is a CACC home game against Wilmington College on Saturday, Dec. 16. The game is set to start at 3:00 p.m. in the George R. Newman Center.
