WILMINGTON, Del.- Caldwell University women's basketball junior Sharell Sanders (Dorchester, Mass.) tallied a career-high 29 points to lead the Cougars past Wilmington University 87-76 in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play.
 
The Cougars improve to 14-3 overall and remain unbeaten in the CACC at 9-0. The Wildcats fall to 6-12 and 3-6 in conference play.
 
The Wildcats jumped out to an 8-2 lead midway through the opening quarter. Caldwell trimmed the score down to four at 10-6 after one quarter of play.
 
Wilmington extended their lead to seven points early in the second quarter at 18-11. The Cougars rallied as Sanders and junior Maura Kelty (Barrington, R.I.) each scored in the paint. Junior Kristen Drogsler (Middle Village, N.Y.) added two free throws as Caldwell pulled to within a point at 18-17 halfway through the quarter.
 
The Wildcats answered as they pushed their lead to nine points at 30-21 with 1:55 left in the first half. Caldwell netted the final five points of the quarter as Drogsler scored on a lay-up and hit a free throw. Junior Karlie O'Driscoll (Sharon, Mass.) scored in the paint with under a minute to play as the Cougars trailed 30-26 at halftime.
 
Wilmington pushed ahead 37-28 early in the third quarter before the Cougars rallied. Caldwell battled back as Sanders scored four points as part of a 9-0 run. Senior Antoinette Pilla (Scarsdale, N.Y.) netted two free throws and drained a triple to even the score at 37 at the 6:57 mark.
 
The Wildcats retook a five-point lead but Caldwell rallied with a 12-4 run to take the lead. Sanders scored six points, while Pilla chipped in four points to give the Cougars a 49-46 lead late in the quarter.
 
Caldwell pushed their lead to nine points at 68-59 early in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats cut the score to 68-63 but Drogsler connected on two free throws and a triple to put Caldwell ahead 75-65. The Cougars held their lead to the final buzzer as they notched their ninth conference victory of the season.
 
Sanders had a career-day to lead the Cougars as she finished with 29 points, five rebounds and six assists. Drogsler chipped in 19 points, six boards and three assists, while Pilla totaled 21 points and four rebounds. O'Driscoll and Kelty each finished with eight points. Sophomore Andie Lennon (Secaucus, N.J.) dished out five assists.
 
The Cougars begin a four-game home stretch as they host Post University on Monday, January 16 for a CACC clash at the Newman Center at 5:30 pm.