CALDWELL, N.J.- The Caldwell University women's basketball team erased a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime where the Cougars came up short following two competitive overtimes 75-72 to Southern Connecticut State University.  
 
The Cougars fall to 6-5 overall, while the Owls improve to 6-2.
 
The Owls jumped out to a 12-7 lead late in the opening quarter but the Cougars rallied back. Junior Casey O'Shaughnessy (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and graduate Shanice Graves (Brooklyn, N.Y.) connected on three-pointers midway through the second quarter as part of the run to give the Cougars a 21-16 lead. Southern Connecticut State answered as they scored in the final seconds of the half to even the score at 26 at the break.
 
The Cougars pushed ahead 31-29 early in the second half following a pair of free throws by senior Paula Dits (Alicante, Spain). The Owls battled back to pull ahead 44-36 after three quarters.
 
Caldwell closed the gap to 44-41 following a bucket by junior Jessica Wagoner (Clifton Park, N.Y.) and a Graves trifecta early in the fourth quarter. The Owls answered and pulled ahead 57-47 with 1:23 left in regulation.
 
The Cougars scored five straight points as Dits converted a three-point play, while O'Shaughnessy drained a pair from the free throw line. The Owls knocked down two free throws to go back up by five at 59-54. Graves came through in the waning seconds with a pair from downtown, the second coming at 2.9 seconds to even the score at 60 to force overtime.
 
Southern Connecticut took a 65-61 lead midway through the first overtime but the Cougars rallied to tie the score at 65 following an O'Shaughnessy bucket and two Graves free throws. The Owls added a three-pointer at the 1:02 mark but the O'Shaughnessy answered for the Cougars to even the score at 68 to force a second overtime.
 
The Owls scored the first four points in the second overtime and matched the Cougars down the stretch.
 
O'Shaughnessy led the way with 21 points, six rebounds and three assists. Graves shot 4-for-8 from downtown, finishing with 14 points, eight boards, five assists and two blocks. Dits recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds along with three assists and two blocks. Wagoner tallied 10 points and a career-high 15 boards, while graduate Saundra Cleckley (Far Rockaway, N.Y.) posted seven points, 11 rebounds, four assists and five steals.
 
The Cougars travel to Brooklyn, NY on Saturday, December 18 for an exhibition games against St. Francis College at 1 pm.