CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College women's basketball team defeated East Stroudsburg University, 61-53 on the second day of the ECAC Holiday Classic, hosted by Caldwell College on Sunday in the George R. Newman Center. The victory ended a four-game losing streak for the Cougars, who are now 4-5 on the season. The Warriors dropped their fourth consecutive game to fall to 1-8.
The two teams battled in the first half, with six lead changes and two ties. A three-pointer by Cyara Woodridge with under a minute left in the half put East Stroudsburg on top, 33-28. Sophomore guard
Kaitlyn Lambert (Cumberland, RI/Cumberland) answered with a three of her own before the halftime buzzer to make the score 33-31 ESU at the break. The lead changed hands three times early in the second half before Caldwell used a 13-5 run, capped by a three from freshman guard
Chelsea Loscalzo (Bayside, NY/St. Agnes), to grab a 49-44 advantage with 11:41 to play. A pair of baskets by Mel Villano helped the Warriors pull to within one, 50-49 with 7:30 on the clock. But the Cougars out-scored ESU 11-4 the rest of the way, holding their opponents to 1-of-10 shooting from the field to clinch the victory.
Caldwell hit 7-of-17 from three-point range and made 46.3 percent of their field goal attempts compared to 28.6 percent for the Warriors. The accurate shooting helped the Cougars overcome 28 turnovers.
Freshman guard
Torey Jones (N. Providence, RI/LaSalle Acad.) led Caldwell with 15 points and nine rebounds while dishing out three assists to earn Player of the Game honors. Junior guard
Abena George (Elmont, NY/Elmont Memorial) made both of her field goal attempts and went a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe to finish with 10 points. Villano and DeAnna Rayam tallied 12 points apiece for East Stroudsburg.
In the other women's game at the ECAC Holiday Classic, Adele Laskowski scored 16 points to lead Dominican College past Le Moyne College, 50-29.
Next up for the Cougars is a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game at Post University on Jan. 5.
