CALDWELL, N.J.- Caldwell University women's basketball junior
Sharell Sanders (Dorchester, Mass.) netted a game-high 22 points as the Cougars defeated Dominican College 83-57 in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Championship Semifinals. The Cougars advance to Sunday's CACC Championship game where they will face S#1 USciences at the Newman Center at 2:30 pm.
The Cougars improve to 25-4 on the season, while the Chargers end their season at 12-18. The Cougars advance Sunday's CACC Championship game for the first time since 2014 when Caldwell last hosted the CACC Championship Final Four.
Caldwell scored the first nine points of the game to take control early. Junior
Kristen Drogsler (Middle Village, N.Y.) scored four points, while sophomore
Kristen Siscamanis (Winthrop, Mass.) scored in the paint to give the Cougars the lead. Sanders capped the strong start with a triple at the 6:22 mark for a 9-0 lead.
Dominican battled back as they pulled to within five points at 15-10 at the 3:22 mark of the opening quarter. Caldwell pulled away with a 19-2 run that stretched deep into the second half to help them build a double-digit lead.
Junior
Karlie O'Driscoll (Sharon, Mass.) totaled five points in the rally, while Drogsler added four points. Sanders connected on a pair from downtown as she totaled 10 points in the run to push Caldwell's lead to 34-12 with 6:06 left in the second quarter.
The Chargers cut the score down to 13 at 34-21 but the Cougars answered. Caldwell finished the half strong as they pulled ahead 43-24 at halftime. The Cougars maintained their double-digit lead throughout the second half as they earn their tenth win in a row.
Sanders led the way with 22 points, five rebounds and five assists. She shot 3-of-5 from downtown. Drogsler chipped in 13 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Siscamanis finished with 12 points and six rebounds, while O'Driscoll totaled nine points and two boards. Sophomore
Andie Lennon (Secaucus, N.J.) posted six points, four assists and three steals in the win. Junior
Maura Kelty (Barrington, R.I.) added four points and seven boards.
The Cougars host the South Division Champ USciences on Sunday, March 5 at 2:30 pm at Caldwell's Newman Center. The winner of Sunday's game secures the conference automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Championship next weekend.
The Cougars remain among the top teams in the region as they moved up to #3 ranking in the current NCAA Division II East Region poll. The NCAA Division II Women's Basketball selection show will be held via ncaa.com on Sunday, March 5 at 10 pm.
