PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Caldwell College women's basketball team came within three points of 19th-ranked Holy Family University after trailing by 15 with under four minutes remaining. But the Cougars' comeback fell short in a 68-62 loss to the Tigers in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Saturday afternoon at the Campus Center. Caldwell is now 9-9 on the season, including 5-6 in the conference, while Holy Family improves to 17-1, 10-0 CACC.

A basket by Lindsey Tennett with 3:50 left in the second half put the Tigers on top 60-45. Six straight points from freshman center Gillian Felix (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) sparked a 15-3 Caldwell run that cut the deficit to three, 63-60 with 27 seconds on the clock. After a pair of free throws from Lauren Peters and a basket by freshman guard Torey Jones (N. Providence, RI/LaSalle Acad.) made the score 65-62 with 17 seconds left, Catherine Carr hit one free throw for a 66-62 lead. A Caldwell turnover followed by two free throws by Peters effectively ended the comeback, as the Cougars lost their third straight game.

Holy Family built a 27-17 lead at the seven-minute mark of the first half before the Cougars reeled off a 9-2 run to pull to within three, 29-26 with 1:37 left in the first half. A basket by Carr allowed the Tigers to take a 33-28 advantage into the halftime break. Caldwell overcame poor shooting (28.1 percent from the field) by grabbing 12 offensive rebounds, including seven by Felix, pictured.

After the lead grew to 13 points early in the second half, Caldwell used an 11-4 run, punctuated by a three-pointer from junior guard Kirsty Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Acad.), to cut the deficit to 47-41 with 10:49 left in the game. Holy Family answered with an 11-2 run of its own to lead by 15, 58-43 with 5:51 remaining. The Tigers were able to hold off a late comeback attempt by Caldwell to win their 94th consecutive CACC game, which is a NCAA Division II record for conference wins in a row.

Leedham made three three-pointers and 7-of-7 from the free throw line en route to 28 points for Caldwell. Jones finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while Felix added 11 points, 14 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. The Cougars were able to stay in the game thanks to excellent free throw shooting, making 17-of-19 (89.5 percent). Peters led Holy Family with 23 points, and Carr pitched in 15 points.

The Cougars return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 2 with a CACC home game against Dominican College. The contest begins at 6:00 p.m. in the George R. Newman Center.