CALDWELL, N.J.- Trailing by eight points to start the fourth quarter, the Caldwell University women's basketball team outscored St. Michael's College 24-9 to surge past the Purple Knights 64-57 in a non-conference contest.
 
The Cougars improve to 6-4 overall, while the Purple Knights fall to 2-5.
 
The Purple Knights led for most of the first half as they held a 13-8 lead late in the opening quarter. Caldwell battled back as senior Paula Dits (Alicante, Spain) drained a triple and senior Ana Gonzalez Martin (Toledo, Spain) added a lay-up to tie the score at 17 early in the second quarter.
 
St. Michael's answered to pull ahead by as much as eight points at 30-22 at the 6:09 mark. The Cougars scored six straight points as junior Casey O'Shaughnessy (Brooklyn, N.Y.) drained a trifecta and added two free throws, while junior Rebecca Morrison (Ayrshire, Scotland) added a lay-up to close the gap to 30-29. The Purple Knights scored four points in the final two minutes to lead 34-29 at halftime.
 
The Purple Knights extended their lead to 46-35 late in the third quarter. O'Shaughnessy drained a triple, while graduate Saundra Cleckley (Far Rockaway, N.Y.) added a bucket to pull within 48-40 entering the final quarter.
 
Caldwell rallied to start the fourth quarter as they opened with an 18-5 run to take the lead late in the game. O'Shaughnessy drained a three-pointer to start the quarter, while Morrison also drained a triple in the run. Dits totaled six points including the go-ahead bucket at the 3:30 mark to put Caldwell ahead 54-53. Dits capped the run with a jumper with 2:21 left in the game to give Caldwell a 58-53 lead. Dits added a bucket and two free throws in the waning seconds to seal the comeback win for the Cougars.
 
Dits led the way with 21 points, three rebounds and three assists in the win. O'Shaughnessy totaled 15 points and four assists, while junior Jessica Wagoner (Clifton Park, N.Y.) added 11 points and eight boards. Morrison finished with nine points, 11 rebounds and three steals. Cleckey posted 10 rebounds and three assists, while graduate Shanice Graves (Brooklyn, N.Y.) finished with four assists and seven boards.
 
The Cougars host Southern Connecticut State University in a non-conference contest on Saturday, December 11 at 1 pm.