WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS IN ECAC FINAL TO WILMINGTON

3-15-08
box score
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Caldwell College women's basketball team lost to Wilmington University, 83-62 in the championship game of the ECAC Tournament Saturday afternoon at Philadelphia University's Gallagher Center. The Cougars, who were participating in the EACC Championship for the first time, finish the season with a record of 18-12, the program's best record since 2003.

The Wildcats (22-9) broke open a close game with a 15-0 run that put them ahead 26-14 with 9:36 remaining in the first half. Caldwell answered with a 10-2 run late in the first half that cut the deficit to 37-32 with 1:35 on the clock. But Wilmington hit a pair of free throws and a field goal to close out the half and take a 41-32 advantage into the break.

The Wildcats carried the momentum into the second half, reeling off a 14-3 spree over the first four minutes to take a commanding 55-35 lead. The Cougars never came closer than 18 points the rest of the way, as Wilmington cruised to its first ECAC title.

Senior guard Dana Leary (Bridgewater, NJ/Immaculata) scored 12 points to pace Caldwell, while junior forward Mackenzie Lynch (Wayne, NJ/DePaul Catholic) grabbed a team-best eight rebounds to go with seven points. Leary and senior guard Phylicia Holmes were named to the all-Tournament team. Amelia Simmons tallied 20 points and eight boards and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

The game marked the final contest wearing the Scarlet, White and Gold for Holmes, Leary, forward Melissa Freeman (Englewood, NJ/Cresskill) and Khaliqa Davis (Newark, NJ/Bloomfield Tech).

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