Jan. 6, 2007

Box Score

Caldwell, N.J. - The Adelphi University women's basketball team came back from a half-point deficit only to fall to host Caldwell College, 66-62, in non-conference action this afternoon at George R. Newman Center. The Cougars improve to 5-6 while the Panthers suffer their third straight loss to fall to 4-7.

More than a third of Adelphi's tally came from junior Gianna Smith with a game-high 26 points and team-high 10 rebounds.

The Panthers trailed by as much as ten points, 6-16, in the opening minutes of the game. A layup by senior Betty Mendieta at 11:45 sparked a 15-8 Adelphi run to close to within one, 23-24, at 4:27. The Cougars managed to hold off the Panthers, carrying a 34-29 advantage into the locker room at the half.

Adelphi came out strong in the second half, rattling off 11 unanswered points capped by a layup from graduate student Valentina Ionova, 40-36, at 14:35. The Panthers kept the Cougars at bay, realizing their largest lead of the contest, 54-47, on a three-point basket from sophomore Lisa Manetta with 7:36 left in regulation. Adelphi kept its cushion at seven, 62-55, after junior Mary Lepore went 1-for-2 from the free throw line at 3:52. This would prove to be the last point for the Panthers who were held scoreless in the final minutes of play. The Cougars were just 3-of-8 from the line, but hit 2-of-3 from the field to go up, 64-62, with 24 seconds to go. Shannon Coyle hit both free throws with four seconds on the clock to seal the victory.

Mackenzie Freeman led a balanced Cougar attack with 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Kahliqa Davis also had 14 points along with seven assists.

The Panthers end their three-game road trip and return to the comforts of Woodruff Hall for a midweek conference match-up versus the University of New Haven on Wednesday, January 10, at 5:30 p.m.