Box Score
CALDWELL, N.J. – The Caldwell College women's basketball team defeated USciences, 70-65 in the quarterfinals of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Saturday afternoon at the George R. Newman Center. The Cougars (17-10) advance to the CACC semifinals for the fourth consecutive year, while the Devils end their season at 18-9.

USciences broke open a close game in the first half with a 9-0 run that put the Devils on top, 28-18 at the 8:25 mark. The lead grew to as many as 12 points before Caldwell closed out the half with a basket by senior forward Jeanette Anderson (Lynn, MA/Lynn English) and two free throws from junior forward Emily Caswell (Wakefield, RI/Prout School) that made the halftime score 36-28 Devils. USciences guard Brianne Traub poured in 26 points in the first half, as the Devils shot 50.0 percent from the field compared to 36.4 percent for Caldwell.

Three-pointers by Camille McPherson and Jessica Sylvester helped USciences push the lead back up to 12, 42-30 a minute into the second half. The Cougars responded with a key 20-5 run that included threes from junior guards Jessica Coscia (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) and Devin Gold (New Hope, PA/Council Rock North) to take a 50-47 lead with 12:23 remaining. Later in the half with the score tied at 58-58, a basket and a conventional three-point play from Caswell put Caldwell ahead, 63-58 with just under four minutes to play.

But the visiting Devils did not give in, as Traub and McPherson each made single free throws, and Sylvester drained a three to knot the score at 63-63 with 1:13 on the clock. Caswell's basket at the one-minute mark regained the lead for Caldwell, and a free throw from sophomore guard Nicole Angelo (Mount Laurel, NJ/Camden Catholic) made the score 66-63 with 33 seconds left. After the teams exchanged a pair of free throws on the next two possessions, a lay-up by Kaitlyn Schmid would not drop for the Devils with eight seconds remaining. Senior guard Marielle Duryea (Middle Village, NY/Archbishop Molloy) grabbed the rebound and made both of her free throws after getting fouled to put the game out of reach.

The Cougars shot 46.7 percent from the field in the second half while limiting USciences to 36.0 percent and recording a 25-15 rebounding edge after halftime. Caldwell also made 15-of-21 from the charity stripe as the Devils struggled, making just 6-of-19 for the game.

Caswell led the Cougars with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Anderson registered 19 points and 11 boards in the win. Angelo finished with 10 points, and Coscia had six assists to go with seven points. Traub was held to eight points in the second half and ended up with a game-high 34 points for USciences.

Caldwell hosts the semifinals and finals of the CACC Tournament next weekend, Mar. 7-8 in the Newman Center. The Cougars will play Philadelphia University, the top seed in the South, on Friday, Mar. 7 at 5:00 p.m.

CACC Women's Basketball Tournament
Quarterfinals, Saturday, Mar. 1 - at Campus Sites
Game 1: 1S Philadelphia 69, 4N Dominican 51
Game 2: 2N Caldwell 70, 3S USciences 65
Game 3: 1N Bloomfield 61, 4S Goldey-Beacom 52
Game 4: 2S Holy Family 71, 3N Felician 50

Semifinals, Friday, Mar. 7 - at Caldwell College, Caldwell, N.J.
1S Philadelphia(20-7) vs. 2N Caldwell (17-10), 5:00 p.m.
1N Bloomfield (18-9) vs. 2S Holy Family (18-9), 7:00 p.m.

Finals, Saturday, Mar. 8 - at Caldwell College, Caldwell, N.J.
Semifinal winners, 7:00 p.m.