CALDWELL, N.J.- Junior Sharell Sanders (Dorchester, Mass.) scored a game-high 19 points as the Caldwell University women's basketball team defeated USciences 71-60 in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action.
 
The Cougars improve to 16-4 overall and 11-1 in the CACC, while the Devils drop to 17-5 and 10-3 in conference play.
 
Caldwell opened out of the gate strong as they scored the first seven points of the game. USciences rallied back as they took the lead at 15-12 late in the opening quarter. Senior Antoinette Pilla (Scaradale, N.Y.) drained a triple with under a minute to play to even the score at 15 after the first quarter.
 
The Cougars took back the lead as junior Kristen Drogsler (Middle Village, N.Y.) and Sanders connected on a pair of baskets. Junior Maura Kelty (Barrington, R.I.) drained a triple to help Caldwell go ahead 22-15 early in the second quarter.
 
USciences answered as they retook the lead at 27-24 with just over a minute to play before the half. Sanders scored in the paint with 27 seconds to play to cut the score to one point. Sanders got a steal and scored with just four seconds left to give Caldwell a 28-27 lead at halftime.
 
The Devils connected on a triple to open the third quarter as they went back in front by two points. The Cougars rallied with a 12-0 run that surged Caldwell back into the lead. Pilla drained a three-pointer to start the rally with 8:15 left in the third quarter. She added a three-point play along with a lay-up as she accounted for eight points in the run. Drogsler added a bucket, while Kelty capped the run with a pair of free throws to give the Cougars a 40-30 lead at the six minute mark.

Caldwell stretched their lead to 13 points early in the final quarter. Sophomore Andie Lennon (Secaucus, N.J.) drained a triple to give the Cougars a 57-44 lead with 8:32 left in the game. The Devils got as close as five points at 59-54 with 5:36 remaining in the contest. Caldwell answered with a 6-0 burst to extend their lead to double digits and held the lead to the final buzzer.
 
Sanders led the way with a game-high 19 points to pace the Cougars scoring. She chipped in six boards, six steals and two assists. Drogsler shot 6-of-7 at the free throw line as she totaled 15 points, six boards, two blocks and two assists. Pilla drained 2-of-5 from downtown to finish with 17 points and four rebounds. Kelty posted nine points and five boards.
 
The Cougars are back in action on Wednesday, February 1 as they travel to Dominican College for a CACC North Division clash at 5:30 pm.