OAKDALE, N.Y. - The Caldwell College women's basketball team lost to Dowling College, 69-57 in a non-conference game Tuesday evening at St. John's University's Eastern Long Island Campus. The result gives the Cougars a 14-9 overall record on the season, while the Lions are now 7-15.

Caldwell fell behind early, trailing 20-7 midway through the first half before battling back late in the half. Two baskets by freshman guard Stephanie Cadet (Elmont, NY/Elmont Memorial) and three-pointers from junior forward Mackenzie Lynch (Wayne, NJ/DePaul Catholic) and freshman guard Kirsty Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Acad.) in the final three minutes of the half allowed the Cougars to pull to within three, 34-31 at halftime.

Dowling built the lead up to nine early in the second half before Caldwell reeled off a 13-4 run capped by a three-pointer from Leedham that tied the game at 44-44 with 12 minutes remaining. Junior forward Janay Perkins (Bronx, NY/Walton) scored six points during the run. The Lions answered with a 10-2 run of their own to lead 54-46 with 5:27 on the clock. Another three-pointer and a lay-up by Leedham cut the deficit to 54-51, but an 11-2 spree by Dowling sealed the Cougars' second straight loss. Caldwell made just 30.7 percent of its attempts from the field, while Dowling went to the free throw line 20 more times than Caldwell in the game.

Perkins, pictured, finished with a career-high 15 points and seven rebounds to pace the Cougars, while senior forward Melissa Freeman (Englewood, NJ/Cresskill) swiped a career-best eight steals to help Caldwell record 19 thefts in the game. Leedham had 13 points and senior guard Khaliqa Davis (Newark, NJ/Bloomfield Tech) recorded 10 points and four assists. For Dowling, Shanasia Franklin notched 24 points and eight boards to lead the way.

The Cougars return to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play with a game at Chestnut Hill College on Saturday, Feb. 16. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. in Philadelphia, Pa.