CALDWELL, N.J.- Caldwell University women's basketball senior
Tina Lebron (Manalapan, N.J.) netted a career-high 27 points as the Cougars fell short to Mercy College 96-89 in double overtime.
The Cougars fall to 0-6 overall, while the Mavericks improve to 4-3.
The teams traded leads early in the game as Mercy pushed ahead 16-11 late in the opening quarter. Caldwell battled back but trailed 22-17 after the first quarter.
The Cougars rallied back to start the second quarter as graduate
Alessia Smaldone (Malnate, Italy) connected on a jumper, while Lebron drained a triple to tie the game at 22. The teams traded leads throughout but the Cougars made a late run to take a halftime lead. Freshman
Jessica Wagoner (Clifton Park, N.Y.) connected on a jumper to tie the game at 33 that sparked a 10-2 run to close the game. Freshman
Halle Brown (Downingtown, Pa.) and Lebron each drained trifectas, while sophomore
Paula Dits (Alicante, Spain) added a lay-up to put Caldwell up 41-35 at halftime.
Dits and Lebron paced the Cougars in the third quarter as they maintained their lead heading to the final quarter. Lebron connected on three triples, while Dits added six points in the quarter.
Caldwell opened up a nine-point lead early in the fourth quarter as freshman
Imogen Cook (Berwick, Scotland) and Smaldone connected on three-pointer to help the Cougars lead 70-61 midway through the quarter. Mercy rallied back as they tied the game at 73 with under a minute to play to force overtime.
The Mavericks took an 80-76 lead with 1:59 left in the first overtime but the Cougars battled back. Smaldone connected on a jumper, while Lebron drained a triple with 20 seconds left to tie the game at 81 to force a second overtime.
Caldwell pushed ahead by one point at 86-85 on a Dits free throw with 1:59 left in the period. Mercy netted seven straight points on free throws and held on down the stretch.
Lebron connected on seven three-points in the game, finishing with 27 points. Smaldone tallied 21 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Dits posted a double-double with 17 points and 13 boards along with two assists. Wagoner added eight points and 11 rebounds.
The Cougars host Pace University on Sunday, December 1 at 1:00 pm.