box score
CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College women's basketball team dropped a non-conference game to Adelphi University, 70-65 in the 2010-11 season opener Saturday afternoon at the George R. Newman Center. The Cougars, picked to win the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference North Division by the conference's head coaches, were 15-12 a year ago.
Caldwell led for the entire first half and held a 29-21 advantage with 4:15 left in the period. The Panthers (1-0) closed out the half strong, outscoring the Cougars 14-7 over the final four minutes to pull within one, 36-35 at the break. Adelphi's Ashley Caiafa scored 18 points in the half as the Panthers shot 50.0 percent (13-of-26).
Adelphi took its first lead of the game one minute into the second half on a three from Caiafa, then built a 54-48 advantage with 11:45 to play. Baskets by sophomore center Gillian Felix (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) and senior guard Kirsty Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Acad.), plus two free throws from freshman guard Shantel McNeil (Camden, NJ/Camden Catholic) tied the score at 54-54. The Cougars regained the lead on back-to-back lay-ups by Felix, and led by three, 61-58 with just over five minutes remaining. Four Caldwell turnovers, combined with three points from Amanda Campusano, led to a 6-2 Adelphi run that put the Panthers back on top, 64-62 with 2:30 on the clock. The Cougars pulled to within one point twice, and trailed 66-65 following two free throws by sophomore guard Torey Jones (N. Providence, RI/LaSalle Acad.) with 44 seconds left. A missed shot by Adelphi gave the Cougars an opportunity to take the lead, but another turnover and a foul put Caiafa on the line with 25 second remaining. She made both shots for a 68-65 lead, and the Cougars were unable to score on their final two possessions.
Felix paced the Cougars with 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks before fouling out of the game. Leedham finished with 14 points and five boards, while Jones had nine points and five assists in the loss. Caiafa led all players with 29 points to go with nine rebounds. Caldwell made 3-of-16 from three-point range, while the Panthers hit 5-of-9 from beyond the arc.
The Cougars play in the Stonehill Tournament in Easton, Mass., next weekend, beginning with a game against Assumption on Friday, Nov. 19 at 5:30 p.m.
