CALDWELL, N.J.- Junior Antoinette Pilla (Scarsdale, NY) drained three first half three-pointers to lead a balanced attack as the Caldwell University women's basketball team defeated Washington Adventist University 91-57.
 
The Cougars improve to 7-5 overall, while the Shock fall to 4-8.
 
Caldwell got off to a fast start as they netted the first four points of the game powered by lay-up from sophomores Karlie O'Driscoll (Sharon, MA) and Maura Kelty (Barrington, RI). The Shock kept the score close in the opening quarter as they cut the score to a point at 15-14 with 1:13 on the clock. Pilla connected on a triple, while freshman Andie Lennon (Secaucus, NJ) got a steal and a lay-up that beat the buzzer to put Caldwell ahead 21-15.
 
Washington Adventist scored early in the second quarter to cut the score down to four points at 21-17 with 9:13 left in the frame. The Cougars rallied with a 10-0 run to push their lead into double figures midway through the second quarter. Lennon totaled four points, while O'Driscoll added two points in the rally. Sophomore Sharell Sanders (Dorchester, MA) capped the run with back-to-back fast break lay-ups off steals to extend the Caldwell lead to 31-17 with 5:16 left in the half.
 
The Shock trimmed the score to 11 points at 35-24 with 2:56 left in the opening half but the Cougars netted the final seven points to extend their lead into halftime. Sanders connected on a triple, while Kelty posted a pair of lay-up to put Caldwell ahead 42-24 at the break.
 
Caldwell pulled ahead in the third quarter as they opened the second half on a 12-5 run to push their lead to 25 points. Sophomore Kristen Drogsler (Middle Village, NY) and Pilla each connected on three-pointers as the Cougars led 54-29 at the 6:16 mark. Caldwell maintained a comfortable lead the rest of the way to pick up their seventh win of the season.
 
For the Cougars, Pilla went 4-for-6 from downtown, finishing with 12 points. Sanders tallied nine points, nine assists, three rebounds and two steals, while Kelty totaled 12 points. Lennon posted 13 points and six boards. Lennon tied a career-high with six assists and set a new career mark with six steals. O'Driscoll chipped in 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Drogsler recorded eight points, five rebounds and three assists. Freshman Ashley Merritt (Poughkeepsie, NY) added 11 points and five assists.
 
The Cougars close out the 2015 half of their schedule on the road as they travel to Molloy College on Thursday, December 31 for a non-conference game at noon.