BRIDGEPORT, Conn.- Sophomore Sharell Sanders (Dorchester, MA) totaled 17 points as the Caldwell University women's basketball team fell to the University of Bridgeport 71-64 in non-conference action.
 
The Cougars fall to 2-2 on the season, while the Purple Knights improve to 1-2.
 
Caldwell scored the first eight points of the game to take an early lead but Bridgeport battled back as they went up by 10 points early in the second quarter.
 
Senior Nicole Angelo (Mt. Laurel, NJ) drained a trifeca, while freshman Kristen Siscamanis (Winthrop, MA) added a jumper as the Cougars trimmed the lead to five points at 21-16. The Purple Knights extended their lead to as much as 16 points before a late flurry by the Cougars sliced the score to nine points at 39-30 heading to halftime.
 
Bridgeport pushed their lead to 12 points late in the third quarter but the Cougars rallied back cutting the score to one point midway in the fourth quarter. Caldwell used a 19-8 run to battle back as sophomore Kristen Drogsler (Middle Village, NY) totaled six points in the run with Angelo draining a three-ball as she chipped in five points. Sophomore Karlie O'Driscoll (Sharon, MA) also netted five points and capped the run with a pair of free throws at the 4:54 mark to cut the score to 57-56.
 
The Purple Knights pushed their lead to as much as nine down the stretch but Cougars hung around with a pair of Angelo three-pointers in the final minute. Bridgeport headed to the line as they hit seven free throws in the final 42 seconds to hold on for the win.
 
For the Cougars, Sanders led the way with 17 points, eight rebounds and four steals, while Angelo totaled 17 points, five rebounds and four assists. Drogsler finished with 14 points and four rebounds, while O'Driscoll totaled nine points, six boards and three assists.
 
The Cougars open Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play as they host Concordia College on Tuesday, November 24 at 6 pm.