The Alternative Press

PHILADELPHIA, PA - In a thrilling and tense double-overtime semifinals game Friday, the Caldwell College Cougars Women’s Basketball Team wanted it more and outlasted Delaware’s Goldey-Beacom College, 70-69. This win is the Cougar’s 15th straight victory and, for the first time since 2003, advances them to play Saturday in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament final championship game. Under the direction of head coach Linda Cimino, the Cougars will be playing against 5th ranked and current champions, Philadelphia’s Holy Family University Tigers.


Anthem   Credit: Matt McLagan

It was a very close game in the first half and the Goldey-Beacom Lightning took a 34-19 lead with two minutes left. Caldwell scored the next eight points, including four from Jessica Coscia, to pull within seven points; 34-27. Ashley Rosario, a senior guard from Levittown, PA, studying Business Management, scored the final basket of the half to give the Lightnings a 36-27 halftime lead.

By the second half, the Cougars deficit seemed to only encourage their enthusiasm; they chipped away at the Lightning lead and tied the score twice before taking their first lead of the game, 57-55 on a lay-up by Coscia with 2:12 minutes left. This lead included points scored by Torey Jones.


Torey Jones  Credit: Matt McLagan

Following a Jones free throw with 18 seconds left, the Cougar’s lead was still two points when Devonne Richardson scored to tie the game at 58-58. A jump shot by Jones as time ran down was off the mark, and sent the game into overtime.


Devonne Richardson  Credit: Goldey-Beacom College Athletics

Free throws by Gillian Felix and a three-point play by Jeanette Anderson gave Caldwell a 63-58 advantage early in the overtime period.


Jeanette Anderson  Credit: Matt McLagan

But the Lightning tied the score over the next 2:20 minutes, and had an opportunity to win the game with the final possession. Richardson's attempt did not go down, and the game went to a second overtime at 63-63.


Head coach Linda Cimino huddles with the Cougars   Credit: Matt McLagan

Jones opened the extra session with a three-pointer, then made two free throws for a 68-63 lead with 2:09 remaining. But the Lightning pulled ahead again with consecutive baskets by Irene Hudson, Jacinda Jones and Richardson, giving the Lightning the lead, 69-68 with just 20 seconds left on the clock.

On their next possession, the Cougars worked the ball in to Anderson, who was fouled with 7.6 seconds left. Anderson scored both free throws putting Caldwell on top, 70-69. Richardson dribbled to the left of the basket but was trapped by the Cougar defense and unable to get off a shot as time expired.

Matt McLagan, Sports Information Director at Caldwell College, commented, “Caldwell never got on track offensively, shooting a season-low 28.8 percent from the field. But the Cougars made 30 trips to the free throw line and converted 23 times, compared to 8-of-16 for Goldey-Beacom.”

Click HERE to see the box score and play-by-play analysis.

Jones and Anderson had both recently been named the CACC’s Player of the Week for weeks ending Feb. 17 and  Feb. 24 and were then given the honor of being named to All-CACC’s First Team.


Credit: Matt McLagan

Lightning

• Devonne Richardson
  15 points
  13 rebounds
  9 assists
  6 turnovers
  3 steals 
   
• Jacinda Jones
  15 points
  5 rebounds
  1 assists
  3 turnovers
  1 steal

The Cougar’s progressed to the semifinals by winning the CACC Quarterfinals game on Saturday, March 2, in Caldwell against the Philadelphia Rams; final score 72-50, Caldwell.

With this loss, the Lightnings end the season with at 20-10 overall, and 16-3 within the conference.


The Lightnings  Credit: Goldey-Beacom College Athletics

The Cougar’s record is 19-11 overall and 15-5 in the CACC; they are the top seed in the North and are advancing to the finals for the sixth time in the program's history, and the first since 2003, when the Cougars won the CACC championship.



They will face the winner of the second semi-final fifth-ranked, defending CACC champions, Holy Family in the final on Saturday, Mar. 9 at 4pm.


For further information:
Caldwell College Athletics
Matt McLagan
Sports Information Director
George R. Newman Center
120 Bloomfield Avenue
Caldwell, NJ 07006
(973) 618-3260
Athletics
Facebook: Caldwell College Athletics