CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College women's basketball team held off a late charge to beat Post University, 69-67 in an important Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest Tuesday evening in the George R. Newman Center. The victory keeps the Cougars (14-10 overall) in the hunt for a playoff spot with a 10-8 conference record with one regular-season game to play. The Eagles drop to 6-19 overall, 2-15 CACC with the loss.

Caldwell trailed the entire first half, falling behind by as many as 10 points before cutting the deficit to 29-25 by halftime. The Cougars shot just 25.0 percent (9-of-36) from the field in the first half compared to 42.3 percent for Post. A three-pointer by junior guard Kirsty Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Acad.) to open the second half pulled Caldwell to within one, but the Eagles built their lead back up to five, 35-30 with just under 16 minutes to play. Free throws by Leedham and freshman forward Ebony Thomas (Jersey City, NJ/Marist) were followed by a basket from freshman guard Torey Jones (Providence, RI/LaSalle Acad.) that gave Caldwell its first lead of the game, 36-35.

The lead changed hands three times, with Post taking a 39-38 lead with 13:10 on the clock. The Cougars answered with 11 straight points punctuated by two threes from Leedham that gave Caldwell a commanding 49-39 lead with nine minutes remaining. Although Post was able to come within three points, the Cougars built the lead back up to seven, 66-59 with just over a minute left. Back-to-back lay-ups and a free throw from Aubrey Latham brought the Eagles within two, 66-64 with 32 seconds on the clock. After junior guard Abena George (Elmont, NY/Elmont Memorial) hit two free throws, Monique Chance made it a one-point game with a conventional three-point play with 11.7 seconds left. Leedham left the door open for Post by making 1-of-2 from the line, giving the Eagles the ball down two with eight seconds left. After Mallorie Michalak's jumper was off the mark, Latham grabbed the rebound but stepped out of bounds with 0.5 seconds remaining. The Cougars inbounded the ball and time expired for their fourth win in five games.

Caldwell ended up shooting 28.4 percent from the field for the game but held a 49-38 advantage on the glass, including 22 offensive rebounds. The Cougars also went to the free throw line 31 times compared to 13 for Post.

Leedham scored 27 of her 30 points after halftime, hitting 6-of-8 from long range and 10-of-13 from the charity stripe for the game. The performance is her second 30-point game of the season. Freshman center Gillian Felix (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) tallied 11 points, 14 rebounds and a career-high four blocks, while Thomas finished with 10 points, five rebounds and three steals. Latham led the Eagles with 22 points and 13 rebounds.

Caldwell honored its two seniors, Kate Shutz (Edison, NJ/Edison) and Danielle Hubbard (East Orange, NJ/Bloomfield Tech), before the game as a part of Senior Night.

The Cougars wrap up the regular season with Saturday's CACC game with Bloomfield College in the Newman Center. The game will be televised by CBS College Sports Network, with the broadcast beginning at 12:00 p.m.