Box Score
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two free throws with no time on the clock allowed the University of the District of Columbia to defeat Caldwell College, 77-76 in a non-conference women's basketball game Tuesday night at the UDC Sports Complex. The Cougars fall to 2-5 with the loss, while the Firebirds remain unbeaten at 5-0.

A lay-up by junior forward Emily Caswell (Wakefield, RI/Prout School) with two minutes remaining in the game put the Cougars ahead, 75-70. UDC answered with a three-pointer from SheKena Williams at the one-minute mark, then tied the score on a lay-up by Denikka Brent with 33 seconds left. Following turnovers by each team, freshman guard Antoinette Pilla (Scarsdale, NY/Ardsley) was fouled with three seconds to play and made her first free throw for a 76-75 Caldwell advantage. The second free throw was off the mark, and Brent grabbed the rebound.

As the clock ticked down, a foul was called as Teara Shaw attempted a three-pointer at the buzzer. A technical foul was issued to the Caldwell bench for arguing, as the foul was initially credited to a player who was not in the game. Turner took the technical free throws and made 1-of-2 to tie the score at 76-76. Shaw then missed her first attempt, but made the second, giving UDC a 77-76 victory.

The Firebirds built a 34-23 lead in the first half before the Cougars reeled off a 20-3 run, including eight points apiece from Pilla and senior forward Jeanette Anderson (Lynn, MA/Lynn English) to make the score 43-37 Caldwell with 1:35 on the clock. A three by Telisha Turner just before halftime pulled UDC to within three, 45-42 at the break. Anderson scored 16 points and Caswell had 13 as the Cougars shot 56.3 percent from the field in the first half.

Caldwell pushed the lead up to 63-55 with 11 minutes left in the game before the Firebirds made it a one-point game with a 10-3 run, 66-65 at the 5:46 mark. A basket by Caswell and another three from Pilla, her fourth of the game, gave the Cougars a 71-65 advantage with 4:07 remaining. But UDC battled back to set up the late comeback.

Caswell led all players with 22 points to go with seven rebounds, while Anderson had 18 points and nine boards. Pilla hit 4-of-7 from three-point range to finish with a career-high 17 points. Freshman forward Alyssa James (Rosedale, NY/St. Mary's) tallied nine points and a team-best 11 rebounds, and junior guard Jessica Coscia (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) added six assists. Turner scored 16 points to lead the Firebirds.

Caldwell plays a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game at Georgian Court University on Saturday, Dec. 7, beginning at 3:00 p.m. in Lakewood, N.J.