SYRACUSE, N.Y.- The Caldwell University women's basketball team rallied back from an 11-point halftime deficit as the Cougars edged The College of Saint Rose 72-69. Caldwell totaled 48 second half points and shot 62.9% in the final two quarters as they remain unbeaten.
 
The Cougars improve to 2-0 on the season, while the Golden Knights drop to 1-1.
 
Saint Rose got off to a fast start as they built a 17-6 lead with 2:36 left in the opening quarter. The Cougars battled back as they closed the quarter with a 9-0 run as senior Antoinette Pilla (Scarsdale, N.Y.) netted five points, while junior Kristen Drogsler (Middle Village, N.Y.) chipped in three points to cut the score to 17-15.
 
Caldwell was held to nine second quarter points as the Golden Knights pushed ahead by as much at 14 points in the quarter. Pilla closed the gap for the Cougars as she connected on a three-pointer and added a late lay-up as Caldwell trailed 35-24 at halftime.
 
Saint Rose extended their lead to 14 points early in the third quarter but the Cougars found their shooting touch as they rallied back. Caldwell totaled 24 points in the quarter as Drogsler netted 11 with a pair of triples, while Pilla scored eight points to bring the Cougars back. Drogsler netted a trifecta at the buzzer to cut the score down to two points at 50-48.
 
The Cougars took their first lead of the game early in the fourth quarter. Drogsler drained a triple, while junior Sharell Sanders (Dorchester, Mass.) turned in a lay-up to put Caldwell in front 53-52 with 8:41 left in the game. The teams traded leads over the next minute but Saint Rose pushed ahead by four points at 62-58 with 4:38 to play in the game.
 
Caldwell used a 7-0 burst to jump back in front by three. Drogsler drained a triple, while Sanders totaled four points to give the Cougars a 65-62 lead with 2:26 remaining in the game.
 
The Golden Knights answered with a 7-2 run to retake a two-point lead at 69-67 with under a minute to play. Drogsler put the Cougars back in the lead for good as she answered with a clutch shot from downtown to put Caldwell up a point.
 
Saint Rose missed a pair of shots on their ensuring possession, while Drogsler came up with a key steal. Sanders hit both free throws at the line as the Cougars extended to a three-point advantage. The Golden Knights missed a potential tying three-pointer as time expired.
 
For the Cougars, Drogsler shot 5-for-6 from downtown, finishing with 28 points, six rebounds and three assists. Pilla tallied 20 points with a pair of triples. Sanders tallied 12 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals. Junior Maura Kelty (Barrington, R.I.) and sophomore Caroline Dunn (Denville, N.J.) each grabbed five rebounds in the victory.  
 
The Cougars open Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play as they travel to Felician University on Wednesday, November 16 at 5:30 pm.