CALDWELL, N.J. - A pair of baskets by junior forward Melissa Freeman (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) in the final 1:18 of the game gave the Caldwell College women's basketball team a 66-62 victory over Adelphi University in a non-conference contest Saturday afternoon in the George R. Newman Center. The Cougars, who trailed by seven with less than four minutes to play, improve to 5-6 overall with the win, while the Panthers drop to 4-7.
After a free throw by sophomore forward Mackenzie Lynch (Wayne, NJ/DePaul Catholic) made it 62-60 Adelphi with 1:24 remaining, junior guard Khaliqa Davis (Newark, NJ/Bloomfield Tech) stole the inbounds pass and found Freeman (left) under the basket for the game-tying lay-up. On Adelphi's next possession, forward Gianna Smith missed a lay-up, with the rebound going out of bounds off of the Panthers with 47 seconds left. Lynch received the ball to the right side of the basket and from her knees, passed the ball to Freeman on the left side. Freeman drained a 10-foot jumper to put Caldwell ahead 62-60 with just 24 seconds on the clock.
With the Panthers looking to tie the game, Lynch blocked Dana Petersen's shot attempt from 15 feet out with six seconds left, sending the ball out of bounds off of an Adelphi player. Senior guard Shannon Coyle (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney) was fouled and hit both free throws to clinch the victory for Caldwell, which won its second straight game and third in four games.
The game had special meaning for Caldwell's first-year head coach Linda Cimino, who played for the Panthers from 1997-2000 and served as an assistant coach at Adelphi last season. Caldwell assistant coach Veronica Mullen also played at Adelphi.
The Cougars shot 50.0 percent (14-of-28) from the field and got 12 points from Lynch and 11 points from Davis in the first half to take a 34-29 advantage at the break. But the Panthers opened the second half with a 13-3 run to take a 42-37 lead at the 14:10 mark. The lead would grow to as many as seven points, including 62-55 with 3:52 on the clock. But Caldwell scored the last nine points of the game and held Adelphi scoreless on 0-of-9 shooting from the field over the final five minutes of the game.
Lynch notched her fourth consecutive double-double with 14 points and 11 boards, all on the defensive glass. She also had a career-high three blocks. Davis (right) also scored 14 points to go with a season-best seven assists, while junior guard Phylicia Holmes (Roselle, NJ/Roselle) had 12 points and nine rebounds. Freeman and junior forward Dana Leary (Bridgewater, NJ/Immaculata) finished with 10 points apiece, while Coyle grabbed a career-best nine rebounds to go with five assists and four steals. Adelphi's Smith led all scorers with 26 points while grabbing 10 boards to pace the Panthers.
The Cougars return to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action next week, when they play at Holy Family on Tuesday, Jan. 9. Game time is set for 6:00 p.m. in Philadelphia, Pa.
