BLOOMFIELD, N.J.- The Caldwell University women's basketball team overcame an early deficit to push nationally ranked #12/#13 Bentley University but fell short in their upset bid 64-53 on the final day of the Caldwell Conference Challenge.
 
The Cougars fall to 0-1, while the Falcons improve to 2-0.
 
Bentley scored the first 15 points to start game but Caldwell battled back with a 19-4 run to close to within two points. Senior Casey O'Shaughnessy (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored eight points, including a pair from downtown, while graduate Saundra Cleckley (Far Rockaway, N.Y.) added four points. Freshman Lucy Coogan (Kilkenny, Ireland) drained a triple to cap the run to cut the score to 21-19 with 5:37 left in the first half.
 
The Falcons closed the half with a late run to hold a 33-27 lead at halftime. Bentley added to their lead to start the second half but Caldwell again rallied back.
 
O'Shaughnessy scored eight points as part of the 14-4 run to close the gap. Senior Jessica Wagoner (Clifton Park, N.Y.) capped the run with a lay-up with under a minute to play in the third quarter to cut the score to 48-45.
 
The Falcons pushed ahead to start the fourth quarter, while Caldwell closed to within four points with under three minutes to play but fell short.
 
O'Shaughnessy led the way with 27 points, shooting 3-for-4 from behind the arc. Senior Halle Brown (Downingtown, Pa.) added seven points, eight boards, three assists and three steals. Coogan finished with seven points and four rebounds, while Morrison grabbed six boards. Wagoner recorded a pair of blocks in the game.
 
The Cougars host Mercy College on Wednesday, November 16 at 5:30 pm.