PHILADELPHIA, Pa.- Caldwell University women's basketball graduate Alessia Smaldone (Malnate, Italy) totaled 18 points as the Cougars fell to Holy Family University 56-52 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest. 
 
The Cougars fall to 7-18 overall and 7-9 in the CACC, while the Tigers improve to 15-9 and 13-3 in conference play.
 
Senior Tina Lebron (Manalapan, N.J.) drained a pair of three-pointers in the opening quarter to help Caldwell build a 16-13 lead early in the second quarter. Holy Family battled back as they pulled even at 22 at halftime.
 
The Tigers pushed ahead to start the second half as they held a 29-24 midway through the third quarter. The Cougars answered as freshman Halle Brown (Downingtown, Pa.) connected on a triple to help Caldwell even at the score at 31 with 3:28 left in the third quarter.
 
Holy Family pushed their lead to 49-39 midway through the fourth quarter. Caldwell made a final run to close the gap to 51-46 with 1:46 remaining in the game. The Tigers held off the Cougars down the stretch as they hit five free throws in the final minute of the game.
 
Smaldone led the way with 18 points, four rebounds, eight assists and three steals. Freshman Rebecca Morrison (Ayrshire, Scotland) added 12 points, four boards and three steals, while Lebron finished with 10 points and three rebounds. Sophomore Paula Dits (Alicante, Spain) totaled six points and eight boards.
 
The Cougars host Dominican College for a CACC contest on Saturday, February 22 at 1:00 pm. Saturday's game will feature Caldwell "Super Saturday" Alumni Event as well as its Mental Health Awareness game.