CALDWELL, N.J. - Sophomore guard Phylicia Holmes (Roselle, NJ/Roselle), left, matched her career high with 16 rebounds as the Caldwell College women's basketball team defeated N.J.I.T., 52-45 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Saturday evening at the George R. Newman Center. The victory clinched a spot in the upcoming CACC Tournament for the Cougars, who improved to 8-17 overall and 8-14 in the conference. The Highlanders dropped to 15-10 on the season, including a 13-9 mark in the CACC.

Eight points by Selena Kershaw and seven from Jill Dickinson helped N.J.I.T. jump out to an 18-6 lead in the game's first 11 minutes. But the Cougars finished the half strong, scoring six straight points at the end of the first period to make the halftime score 24-22 in favor of the Highlanders.

A pair of baskets by sophomore forward Dana Leary (Bridgewater, NJ/Immaculata) sandwiched around an Aine O'Dwyer jumper tied the game at 26-26. A basket from sophomore forward Melissa Freeman (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) three minutes into the second half gave the Cougars their first lead of the game at 28-26. A three-pointer by junior guard Shannon Coyle (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney) completed an 11-2 run that put Caldwell ahead 35-28 with 13:19 to play. N.J.I.T. eventually tied the game at 39-39 on Kershaw's lay-up at the nine-minute mark, only to have the Cougars regain the lead. The Highlanders pulled to within one, 42-41 with 5:45 left, but a jumper by junior guard Amy Ransom (Chattanooga, TN/Notre Dame) and a pair of buckets from freshman forward Janay Prim (Ansonia, CT/Kolbe Cathedral) helped the Cougars maintain the upper hand.

Caldwell held the Highlanders to just six field goals in the second half, as N.J.I.T. shot just 19.4 percent from the floor after halftime.

Holmes, who scored eight points and dished out five assists, grabbed five of her 16 boards on the offensive glass, including two boards off of missed free throws down the stretch to help preserve the win. Leary scored a team-high 12 points to go with five rebounds for Caldwell, which currently holds the sixth seed in the CACC Tournament that begins on Mar. 1. N.J.I.T.'s Kelly Crowe led all scorers with 17 points, and Kershaw finished with 14 points and 17 boards.

The Cougars continue conference play with a game at the University of Sciences on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m.