CALDWELL, N.J.- Sophomore Kristen Drogsler (Middle Village, NY) posted her third double-double of the season to lead the Caldwell University women's basketball team to a 78-67 victory against the Franklin Pierce University Ravens in a non-conference clash.
 
The Cougars improve their record to 11-7, while the Ravens fall to 9-6.
 
The teams got off to fast starts as they traded points from the 9:18 mark to the 5:39 mark of the opening quarter. They combined to hit 11 straight shots with the Cougars connecting on a trio of three-pointers. Drogsler, junior Antoinette Pilla (Scarsdale, NY) and freshman Andie Lennon (Secaucus, NJ) drained trifectas in the run to put Caldwell up 17-16. The teams went cold until the final 1:41 where again they traded baskets late in the quarter. The Ravens connected a three-pointer just before the buzzer to lead 24-22 after one quarter.
 
The Ravens extended their lead to six points early in the second quarter at 28-22. The Cougars rallied with an 11-2 run to flip the score in their favor at 33-30. Senior Nicole Angelo (Mt. Laurel, NJ) totaled five points in the run, including a triple, to help Caldwell take the lead. Franklin Pierce trimmed the score to one but Pilla knocked down a three-pointer to help the Cougars build a 40-34 lead at halftime.
 
Franklin Pierce opened the second half with six unanswered points to even the score at 40 at the 8:32 mark of the third quarter. The Cougars answered with a 15-3 run to push their lead into double digits late in the quarter. Pilla, Angelo and Drogsler each netted triples in the run, while sophomore Karlie O'Driscoll (Sharon, MA) capped the run with a bucket at the 4:30 mark to put Caldwell ahead 55-43.
 
The Cougars maintained their lead into the final quarter as they pushed ahead by as much as 16 points at the 7:01 mark following a Lennon triple. The Ravens got as close as eight points in the final five minutes of the game but Caldwell was able to hold off the Ravens down the stretch to earn their 11th win of the season.
 
For the Cougars, Drogsler led the way with 17 points and 14 rebounds along with six assists. O'Driscoll tallied 17 points and eight boards, while Pilla also dropped in 17 points. Angelo chipped in 12 points, seven assists and three steals, while Lennon finished with nine points, three rebounds and four assists.

Caldwell returns to conference play with a key Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game against Dominican College on Wednesday, January 20 at 8 pm at the Newman Center.