CALDWELL, N.J.- Caldwell University women's basketball senior Maura Kelty (Barrington, R.I.) posted her fourth career double-double as the Cougars rallied from a halftime deficit to defeat the Jefferson Rams 69-59 in a key in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest.
 
The Cougars, ranked #5 in the NCAA Division II East Region, improve to 22-4 and maintain their lead in the North Division with a 15-2 mark in the CACC. The Rams drop to 22-4 and 14-3 in conference play.
 
The teams traded leads through the first quarter but the Rams closed out the quarter with a strong run. Jefferson pulled ahead by double digits as they built a 24-14 lead after the opening quarter.
 
Junior Andie Lennon (Secaucus, N.J.) drained a triple early in the second quarter, while senior Sharell Sanders (Dorchester, Mass.) added a jumper as the Cougars cut their deficit to 24-19. The Rams battled back as they extended their lead to 11 points midway through the quarter.
 
Caldwell closed the half strong as Kelty totaled four points down the stretch, while senior Kristen Drogsler (Middle Village, N.Y.) added a three-pointer. Sanders scored in the final seconds but the Cougars trailed 36-32 at halftime.
 
The Cougars rallied back to start the second half as they opened the third quarter with a 16-5 run. Kelty dropped in seven points to help the Cougars take the lead. Sophomore Tina Lebron (Manalapan, N.J.) capped the run with a three-pointer at the 1:35 mark to put the Cougars in front 48-41.
 
Jefferson trimmed the score down to two points at 50-48 early in the fourth quarter. Caldwell answered with a 10-2 burst to push ahead by 10 points behind four points from junior Kristen Siscamanis (Winthrop, Mass.). The Cougars held off the Rams down the stretch as Drogsler drained five free throws in the final minute.
 
Kelty led the way with her fourth career double-double as she finished with 18 points and 11 boards. Lennon added 14 points and four boards, while Sanders tallied 11 points, four assists and four steals. Siscamanis posted 11 points and six boards, while Drogsler totaled eight points, three assists, five blocks and five steals.
 
At halftime of the women's game, CACC Commissioner Dan Mara inducted Caldwell Basketball alumnus Danielle Ciresi Murphy '91 into the CACC Hall of Fame. The game was also featured as the NCAA Division II Showcase Game and was streamed lived on ESPN3 and the ESPN Watch app.
 
The Cougars are back on the court on Wednesday, February 21 as they travel to Post University for a 5:30 tip.