COUGARS DEFEAT PHILADELPHIA, 86-80 IN ECAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

3-14-08
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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Senior guard Khaliqa Davis (Newark, NJ/Bloomfield Tech) and junior forward Janay Perkins (Bronx, NY/Walton) each scored 17 points as the Caldwell College women's basketball team beat host Philadelphia University, 86-80 in the semifinals of the ECAC Championship Friday evening at the Gallagher Center. The victory puts the Cougars (18-11) into Saturday's finals, while the Rams end their season at 19-10.

Caldwell led by as many as 18 points in the first half, as the Cougars took a 40-27 advantage into the halftime break. Perkins poured in 11 points and freshman guard Kirsty Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Acad.) hit two threes in the game's first 20 minutes to help Caldwell take control of the game. The lead grew to as many as 19 points in the second half after Davis' lay-up put the Cougars ahead 68-49 with 6:32 to play. But the Rams did not surrender, as three three-pointers from Amanda Brascetta sparked a 15-6 run that made the score 74-64 Caldwell with just under four minutes to play. Three-pointers from Taylor Magnus and Shaleta Frye helped Philadelphia pull to within four points, 84-80 with 22 seconds left. But the Rams came up empty on their final two possessions as the Cougars avenged a 75-59 loss to Philadelphia back on Feb. 23.

Perkins made 8-of-12 from the field en route to a career-high 17 points to go with six rebounds, while Davis hit 9-of-10 from the line. Leedham finished with 13 points, and senior guard Dana Leary (Bridgewater, NJ/Immaculata) and freshman guard Stephanie Cadet (Elmont, NY/Elmont Memorial) each tallied 11 points. Leary also grabbed a team-best nine rebounds. Jessica Romano recorded  21 points and 14 rebounds to pace the Rams.

The Cougars, who are making their first appearance in the ECAC Championship, will face Wilmington University in the finals on Saturday, Mar. 15 at 2:00 p.m. The Wildcats defeated Adelphi University, 79-67 in the other semifinal.

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