Box Score
CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College women's basketball team began the 2013-14 season with a 75-58 loss to Bentley University Sunday afternoon in the George R. Newman Center. The Cougars, who were 19-12 a year ago, start the season 0-1, while Bentley, ranked No. 1 in the preseason Division II national rankings, improves to 2-0.

Caldwell stayed with the Falcons for most of the first half, leading 15-13 early and taking a 29-28 advantage on a basket by freshman guard Toni Pilla (Scarsdale, NY/Ardsley) at the 4:12 mark. Bentley closed out the half with a 9-2 run to end the period with a 37-31 lead. Junior forward Emily Caswell (Wakefield, RI/Prout School) had eight points, while senior forward Jeanette Anderson (Lynn, MA/Lynn) recorded six points and six boards in the first half.

The lead was still seven points when Pilla drained a three and sophomore forward Lisa Rovatsos (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) hit a jumper that made the score 44-42 Bentley with 14:34 on the clock. But the Falcons answered with a 17-2 run that included 13 points from All-American guard Lauren Battista, putting the visitors on top, 61-44 with 7:52 to play. Caldwell didn't get closer than 13 points the rest of the way, as the Falcons won for the second day in a row. Bentley defeated 11th-ranked Holy Family University, 81-68 on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Caswell, Pilla and junior guard Jessica Coscia (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) led Caldwell with 11 points apiece. Freshman forward Alyssa James (Rosedale, NY/St. Mary's) contributed six points, nine rebounds, two blocks and three steals in her collegiate debut. The Cougars made just 2-of-19 from three-point range and were out-rebounded, 51-36 for the game. Battista finished with a game-high 23 points, and Jen Gemma had nine points and 11 boards for Bentley.

Caldwell plays in the Assumption Tournament on Nov. 16-17 in Worcester, Mass. The Cougars face the host Greyhounds on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. before taking on No. 7 Stonehill on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.