<%@ Register Tagprefix="CC" TagName="HeaderFooter" Src="file://cserv5/athletics/headerfooter.ascx" %> <%@ Register Tagprefix="CC" TagName="Navigate" Src="file://cserv5/athletics/navigation.ascx" %> LOWELL, Mass. – Junior guard Kirsty Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Acad.) poured in 30 points as the Caldwell College women's basketball team edged Bentley University, 72-70 at the UMass-Lowell Tournament Sunday afternoon in the Costello Athletic Center. The victory is the second win in a week over a team from the Northeast-10 Conference for the Cougars, who are now 2-1. Bentley is now 3-1.

The first half remained tight, as neither team led by more than four points. With the game tied at 19-19 with 5:47 remaining, the lead changed hands seven times, the last time on a basket by Bentley's Elise Caira in the final minute of the half that put the Falcons ahead 26-25 at halftime. Sophomore forward Kaitlyn Lambert (Cumberland, RI/Cumberland) provided most of Caldwell's offense, making six of her team's nine field goals en route to 13 first-half points.

Leedham heated up in the second half, scoring Caldwell's first 12 points after halftime to help the Cougars build a 37-35 lead. With Caldwell ahead 46-45, Bentley went on a 12-4 run capped by a three-pointer from Meghan Thomann to take its largest lead of the game, 57-50 at the 5:52 mark. The Cougars answered by scoring 11 straight points, including nine by Leedham, to lead 61-57 with 2:18 remaining. Bentley tied the game with a 6-2 run, making the score 63-63 with a minute to play. Both teams came up empty on their next possessions, sending the game to overtime.

In the extra period, baskets by Lambert and junior guard Abena George (Elmont, NY/Elmont Memorial) put Caldwell on top, 70-66 with 1:13 on the clock. Following a pair of free throws by Katherine Goodwin, freshman guard Torey Jones (N. Providence, RI/LaSalle Acad.) hit a lay-up for a 72-68 Caldwell lead with 11 seconds remaining. After Kim Brennan made two free throws to bring Bentley to within two, Caldwell missed a pair at the charity stripe with five seconds left to give the Falcons one more chance. But Brennan's of-balance three-pointer was off the mark, giving the Cougars the victory.

Leedham made three three-pointers and was 11-of-11 from the free throw line for Caldwell, which defeated No. 9 Stonehill last Sunday. Bentley and Stonehill were picked to finish first and second in the NE-10 Preseason Poll. Jones finished with a career-high 21 points, while Lambert had 17 points and seven rebounds. Goodwin had 18 points and Brennan scored 16 for the Falcons, who beat Bloomfield College on Saturday.

Caldwell returns home to host Cheyney University on Monday, Nov. 30. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. in the George R. Newman Center.