CALDWELL, N.J. -- Senior guards
Jah'Nel Lewis (Fort Lee, N.J.) and
Brooke Corbett (Staten Island, N.Y.) were the stars as Caldwell University women's basketball opened the 2026-27 season with a resounding, wire-to-wire, non-league 66-50 triumph over 2025-26 NCAA Regional entry Saint Michael's at the George R. Newman Center on Monday evening.
The Cougars shook off a sluggish offensive start by both squads by extending an 18-16 lead to 27-19 with a run midway through the second quarter, capped by a three pointer by Lewis, who finished with a game-high 22 points, and a pair of free throws by Corbett, who starred on the defensive side of the ball with 12 rebounds, five steals and a blocked shot.
The Cougars then closed the half on 6-0 run for a 33-20 edge at the intermission.
It was more of the same in the third quarter as Caldwell pushed its lead to 23 with a 16-8 spurt and were never challenged thereafter.
Senior guard
Neysa Aguilar (Middlesex, N.J.) posted 14 points and junior guard
Zaakirah Edwards (Philadelphia) made her Cougar debut a memorable one with nine points and three rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.
In her first career start, junior center/forward
Mariah Luke (Binghamton, N.Y.) had career-highs of six points and six rebounds.
Caldwell's defense clamped down on SMC, limiting the visitors to 29.3% shooting (17/58) from the floor, including 13.3% (4/30) from three. Ruby Santos paced the Purple Knights' scoring with 13 points.
The Cougars travel to the NE10/CACC challenge this weekend, taking on host Pace on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Adelphi on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in their next action.
