RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Junior guard Torey Jones (Providence, RI/LaSalle Acad.) surpassed 1,000 career points as the Caldwell College women's basketball team defeated Felician College, 77-73 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Tuesday night at Job Gym. Jones, who led the Cougars with 19 points, achieved the milestone with a three-pointer three minutes into the game.
The victory gives Caldwell a 3-5 record overall and a 2-1 mark in league play, while the Golden Falcons drop to 3-5, 2-1 CACC.
Jones also hit the first basket of the game to help the Cougars open the first half with a 13-0 run, which included six points from senior forward Kaitlyn Lambert (Cumberland, RI/Cumberland). Caldwell pushed the lead to 29-11 following a pair of baskets from freshman forward Emily Caswell (Wakefield, RI/Prout School) at the 7:46 mark. But Felician refused to let the game get away, as the Golden Falcons reeled off a 23-4 spree to take their first lead of the game, 34-33 with a minute left in the half. Jones made two free throws and Bianca Martinez hit 1-of-2 from the line to tie the score at 35-35 at the break.
The Cougars started the second half much like they did the first, as Jones hit two threes and Lambert, senior guard Stephanie Cadet (Elmont, NY/Elmont) and freshman guard Jessica Coscia (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) hit from long range to ignite a 26-6 run over the first eight minutes. Felician made just 2-of-11 from the field during that stretch as Caldwell built a 61-41 lead.
The lead was 67-47 with just under eight minutes remaining when the Golden Falcons again mustered another comeback, outscoring Caldwell 22-4 to pull to within 71-69 with a minute to play. Jones made 3-of-4 from the line, then senior guard Willeen Capehart (Providence, RI/LaSalle Acad.) made two free throws for a 76-71 advantage with 27 seconds left. Felician's Jessica Ford made a lay-up with 15 seconds on the clock, but Cadet iced the game with a free throw for a 77-73 win.
Caldwell struggled from the free throw line, making 15-of-30 in the second half, but drained 6-of-12 from three-point range for the game. Jones, who now has 1,014 points in her career at Caldwell, made 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and added three assists and three steals. Lambert finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore forward Jeanette Anderson (Lynn, MA/Lynn) grabbed a team-best 14 rebounds to go with 11 points. Junior center Gillian Felix (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) contributed 10 points, nine boards and five blocks, and Coscia dished out a career-high nine assists. Destiny Barnette finished with a game-high 25 points to go with 11 rebounds.
Caldwell continues CACC play with a game at Concordia College on Thursday, Dec. 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. in Bronxville, N.Y.
