RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Senior guard Shannon Coyle (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney) scored a game-high 18 points, and sophomore forward Mackenzie Lynch (Wayne, NJ/DePaul Catholic) recorded 16 points, 14 rebounds and eight steals as the Caldwell College women's basketball team defeated Felician College, 68-51 Thursday evening at Job Gym. The win ends a three-game losing streak for the Cougars, who improve to 9-11 overall and 7-8 in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference.

The first half remained close, with six lead changes and eight ties in the game's first 20 minutes. Caldwell closed out the half with a 7-0 run to turn a two-point deficit into a 30-25 lead at halftime. Coyle and Lynch each had nine points in the first half, with Lynch making all four of her attempts from the field.

Caldwell made its pivotal run early in the second half, using a pair of threes from Coyle to spark 10 straight points that put the Cougars ahead 43-29 with 14:48 on the clock. The lead would expand to 17 points on a lay-up by freshman Kate Shutz (Edison, NJ/Edison) that made it 50-33 at the nine-minute mark. The Golden Falcons (1-23 overall, 0-16 CACC) answered with a 14-4 run of their own that cut the deficit to 54-47 with 4:34 to play. But Caldwell wrapped up the win by making 12-of-13 from the free throw line in a 12-2 run spanning the last three minutes of the game. Strong defense also contributed, forcing four Felician turnovers and three missed shots from the field over the final three minutes.

Coyle drained 4-of-8 from three-point range and also dished out four assists. Lynch ended up making 5-of-6 from the floor and 6-of-9 from the line to earn her 10th double-double of the season. She finished with a career-high eight steals, coming just two steals shy of a triple-double. Junior guard Phylicia Holmes (Roselle, NJ/Roselle) tallied 11 points, six boards and two steals in the win. The Golden Falcons received 13 points and 13 rebounds from Crystal Ferrer.

Caldwell returns home to face Dominican College in an important CACC game on Monday, Feb. 5. The game is scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. in the George R. Newman Center.