CALDWELL, N.J. – The Caldwell University women's basketball team defeated Chestnut Hill College, 77-54 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Saturday afternoon in the George R. Newman Center. The Cougars improve to 8-7 overall with the win, including a 5-1 mark in the conference to remain atop the CACC North Division. The Griffins drop to 3-9, 1-4 CACC.
Caldwell took control of the game with a 10-0 run, including four points from freshman forward
Karlie O'Driscoll (Sharon, MA/Sharon), to lead 20-10 midway through the first half. The advantage remained in double-digits for the final 7:33 as the Cougars led 40-25 at the end of the half. Freshman guard
Sharell Sanders (Dorchester, MA/St. Mary's) led all players with 14 points and four steals in the period, while senior forward
Emily Caswell (Wakefield, RI/Prout School) added eight points and nine rebounds.
Freshman guard
Kristen Drogsler (Middle Village, NY/Christ the King) drained a three to start the second half and give Caldwell its largest lead to that point, 43-25. Four points apiece from Tiffany Turner and Shayla Felder brought the Griffins to within 12, 45-33 with 16:48 on the clock. But that's as close as Chestnut Hill would get the rest of the way, as the Cougars maintained control throughout the second half.
Caldwell made up for a poor shooting performance from three-point range (2-of-18) by hitting 52.4 percent of their two-point attempts for the game. Strong defense also contributed to the win, with 14 steals and 24 points off turnovers. The cougars also generated 26 points off their fast break.
Sanders finished with career highs of 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to go with five steals to lead the Cougars. Caswell notched her 12th double-double of the season with 16 points, 12 rebounds and two steals, while O'Driscoll and junior guard
Nicole Angelo (Mount Laurel, NJ/Camden Catholic) each contributed 10 points. Senior guard
Jessica Coscia (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) delivered eight assists, and Drogsler ended up with eight points, four assists and two steals.
Caldwell hosts Post University in another CACC contest on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Game time is set for 6:00 p.m. in the Newman Center.
