RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Caldwell College women's basketball team led from start to finish in a 99-69 win over Felician College in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference opener for both teams Saturday afternoon at Job Gym. The result improves the Cougars' overall record to 3-1 on the season, while the Golden Falcons drop to 1-4. Junior forward Mackenzie Lynch (Wayne, NJ/DePaul Catholic) paced Caldwell with 26 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.

The Cougars used an early 14-4 run to grab a 20-9 lead in the game's first eight minutes. Felician never recovered, trailing by at least 10 points the rest of the way. An 8-1 run to finish the half put Caldwell up 51-32 at halftime for its largest lead of the first period. The Cougars shot 20-of-38 (52.6 percent) from the floor while making 11-of-13 (84.6 percent) from the free throw line in the first half. Turnovers were also a factor in the first 20 minutes, with Felician coughing up the ball 20 times compared to nine miscues for Caldwell.

The lead would grow to as many as 31 points in the second half before the Golden Falcons used a 10-2 spree to reduce the Caldwell advantage to 19, 82-63 with 4:36 on the clock. But the Cougars finished strong with a 17-6 run during the remainder of the contest. Caldwell finished with 16 steals while forcing 33 Felician turnovers in the game.

Lynch made 7-of-10 from the field and 11-of-14 from the charity stripe to record a season-high 26 points. Senior guard Dana Leary (Bridgewater, NJ/Immaculata) pitched in 12 points, three rebounds and three assists, and freshman guard Stephanie Cadet (Elmont, NY/Elmont Memorial) swiped a game-high five steals to go with nine points. All 12 Cougars who saw action in the game scored. Janelle Biamonte had 13 points to pace the Golden Falcons.

Next up for Caldwell is a non-conference home game against Concordia College on Monday, Dec. 3. Game time is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in the George R. Newman Center.