CALDWELL, N.J.- Caldwell University women's basketball graduate Alessia Smaldone (Malnate, Italy) netted 17 points as the Cougars fell to Molloy College 54-47 in a non-conference game.
 
The Cougars fall to 0-5, while the Lions improve to 5-1.
 
Molloy took an 8-4 lead midway through the opening quarter. Caldwell battled back as they pulled ahead 12-11 late in the quarter. Senior Kristen Siscamanis (Winthrop, Mass.) netted four points in the run, while freshman Paula Dits (Alicante, Spain) added a bucket to put the Cougars in front.
 
The Cougars answered as they retook the lead late in the second quarter. Dits scored in the paint to put Caldwell ahead 22-19 with 3:40 to play. The Lions battled back as they drained a three-pointer in the final minute to hold a 26-24 lead at halftime.
 
The Lions pushed ahead by double-digits late in the third quarter but Caldwell battled back late in the game. Junior Tina Lebron (Manalapan, N.J.) drained a triple early in the final quarter, while Smaldone totaled seven points over the final 10 minutes of the game. Caldwell closed the gap to seven points in the final minute but Molloy drained three free throws down the stretch.
 
Smaldone led the way with 17 points, six assists and two steals. Dits totaled eight points and 11 rebounds, while Siscamanis posted eight points and three boards. Freshman Tamrin Henderson (Woodbridge, Va.) grabbed seven rebounds, while Lebron recorded four steals.
 
The Cougars travel to Concordia College on Tuesday, December 4 for their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference opener at 5:00 pm.