LAKEWOOD, N.J. - The Caldwell College women's basketball team fought back from a 14-point deficit to take the lead late in the game, but ended up on the losing end of a 72-69 decision to Georgian Court University in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Thursday night. Five Cougars scored in double-figures, led by juniors Melissa Freeman (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) and Dana Leary (Bridgewater, NJ/Immaculata), who each scored 16 points. With their fifth loss in six games, the Cougars fall to 9-13 overall and 7-10 in the CACC, while the Lions improve to 5-18, 4-15 CACC.

The Lions, sparked by a pair of threes from Jamee Bush, opened the game with a 14-2 run over the first 4:27 of the contest. Another three by Bush put Georgian Court ahead 22-8 at the 11:28 mark of the first half. Still trailing 30-17 with 5:15 on the clock, the Cougars made a run, outscoring the Lions 8-0 to cut the deficit to 30-25 with just under three minutes left in the half. The Lions' lead remained at five the rest of the half, as Georgian Court took a 36-31 advantage at halftime.

After the Lions extended their lead to as many as eight early in the second half, the Cougars were able to pull to within one, 47-46 after a basket by senior center Amy Gaudious (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) at the 13-minute mark. Leary then followed a GCU free throw with a jumper that tied the game at 48-48. Caldwell took its first lead of the game with 6:36 remaining, when Leary converted a conventional three-point play to make the score 57-56. But Georgian Court regained the upper hand and held a 64-60 lead with just over three minutes to play.

The Cougars continued to battle, using a pair of free throws from junior guard Phylicia Holmes (Roselle, NJ/Roselle), another conventional three-point play from Leary and a Leary lay-up to grab a 67-64 advantage with 2:27 to play. Five straight points, punctuated by a three from Melinda Hunold, put GCU back on top, 69-67 with 50 seconds left. Holmes then tied the game with 30 seconds left, only to have Ashley Lobbato respond with a basket at the other end with 22 seconds to go. After Caldwell missed a field goal attempt on the next possession, Lobbato hit 1-of-2 at the line for a 72-69 lead. A three-point attempt as time expired did not drop, giving the Lions the victory.

Freeman came off the bench to make 8-of-10 from the floor, including 7-of-8 during the first half. Gaudious, right, recorded season highs of 14 points and eight rebounds in her first start of the season. Holmes finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and five steals, and senior guard Shannon Coyle (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney) recorded 10 points and eight assists. Lobbato had 16 points and 12 boards to pace the Lions.

The Cougars host 14th-ranked Holy Family University in a CACC game on Saturday, Feb. 10. The game is scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. in the George R. Newman Center.