CALDWELL, N.J.- Sophomore Kristen Drogsler (Middle Village, NY) netted 20 points but the Caldwell University women's basketball team fell to St. Thomas Aquinas 89-76 in non-conference action. The Cougars fall to 2-1 on the season, while the Spartans improve to 3-0.
 
The Spartans scored the first 12 points of the game to take an early first quarter lead.  Caldwell trimmed the score down to six points but St. Thomas Aquinas pushed their lead back to double digits after one quarter of play.
 
The Cougars got off to a strong start in the second quarter to help Caldwell pull even at 32-32. Junior Antoinette Pilla (Scarsdale, NY) netted seven points as part of a 17-3 run as her jumper at the 5:24 mark knotted the score. The teams traded leads the rest of the first half but the Spartans held 43-38 halftime advantage.


St. Thomas Aquinas led for most of the third quarter as they built a seven point lead but the Cougars rallied late in the frame. Caldwell battled back over the final three minutes, tying the score with under a minute to play follow a triple by senior Nicole Angelo (Mount Laurel, NJ). The Spartans got a late hoop to lead by two heading to the fourth quarter.
 
Caldwell took the lead early in the fourth quarter as Drogsler connected on a three pointer and sophomore Karlie O'Driscoll (Sharon, MA) converted a three-point play to put the Cougars up 63-61 with 8:50 left in the game. The Spartans retook the lead as they took a 10 point lead with just over three minutes to play and held off the Cougars in the final minutes.
 
Drogsler led the way with 20 points along with five rebounds and three assists. Angelo chipped in 17 points and two boards, while O'Driscoll just missed a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds. Pilla posted 13 points, while freshman Andie Lennon (Secaucus, NJ) totaled six points and six assists.
 
The Cougars return to action on Thursday, November 17 as they travel to the University of Bridgeport for a 7 pm non-conference game.