CALDWELL, N.J. -- Soph Gules Esposito (Staten Island, N.Y.) had a game-high and career-best 12 points and added seven rebounds, while freshman Jahnel Lewis (Jersey City,  N.J.) scored 11, added eight rebounds and dished out four assists as Caldwell women's basketball got back in the win column with a defense-inspired, 61-33 triumph over Queens (1-4) at Newman Center.

The Cougars jumped out to a 12-0 lead and still held a 12-2 advantage after a first quarter which saw the defense limit the Knights to 0/12 from the floor. The Cougars would extend to a 19-2 lead on a jumper by and Amyah Bray (Manchester, N.J. followed by a three and jumper by Esposito. The visitors would climb to within eight with nine straight points, but another run started on consecutive threes by Lewis and Esposito bolstered the lead back up to 14 and the Cougars were never headed.

Esposito made five of seven field goals, including two of three from three point range, as CU banged in nine threes in all.

Overall, the Cougars (2-2) held the Knights to 12 of 70 shooting from the floor, including 1 of 26 from behind the three-point arc. Freshman Brianna Carey (Clifton Park, N.Y.) had 10 points, classmate Brooke Corbett (Staten Island, N.Y.) had eight rebounds and Bray grabbed a team-best nine boards for CU.

Caldwell next opens CACC play at Felician on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in Rutherford, N.J.