Box Score
FINAL SCORE: Caldwell 67 | So. Conn. St. 55
TEAM RECORDS: Caldwell (10-2) | So. Conn. St. (5-7)
CALDWELL, N.J. - Despite three double-digit performances from senior
Taylor McLaughlin (Colchester, Conn.), senior
Maria Weselyj (Marlborough, Conn.) and junior
Abby Hurlbert (Thomaston, Conn.), the Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team fell to non-conference foe Caldwell University, 66-57, on Sunday afternoon at the Newman Center. The Cougars came into the game ranked No. 13 nationally.
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was an evenly matched first quarter as Southern Connecticut trailed no more than five until the 2:49 mark as the Cougars begin pushing their lead to double-digits. Southern Connecticut would end the first quarter trailing the hosts, 22-13, but a 9-4 run brought the Owls to within four, 26-22, following a deep three from Hurlbert with 4:28 left in the second. However, Caldwell would rally back and secure a 37-24 lead at the half.
Caldwell would remain in control of the lead for the remaining 20 minutes of regulation. Southern Connecticut was able to close in on the Cougars at the 6:24 mark, in the third, as a good free-throw by McLaughlin brought the score to within six, 41-35.
FIRST HALF NOTES
- Hurlbert led the offensive charge scoring seven of her 14 points on 2-of-4 shooting from floor and 1-of-2 shooting from behind the arc.
- The Owls only shot 28.6 percent from the floor compared to Caldwell's 38.7 percent shooting.
- Both Caldwell and Southern Connecticut shot 33.3 percent from behind the arc, respectively.
SECOND HALF NOTES
- Southern Connecticut out-rebounded Caldwell 25-16 as well as outscored the hosts 31-30.
- Caldwell shot only 29.6 percent from the field while the Owls shot 40.6 percent.
- Freshman Kiana Steinauer (Oakville, Ontario) collected two of the Owls' blocks in the second.
FINAL STATS
- McLaughlin collected her seventh double-double of the season, which is a new career-high.
- Hurlbert was just four points shy of tying her career-high of 18 points as the junior registered 14 points, three steals and four rebounds.
- Steinauer set a new career-high in blocks with three.
- The Owls led the Cougars in points in the paint (26-22), points off turnovers (17-16) and bench points (11-4).
UP NEXT
Southern Connecticut returns to action on December 29th against Dominican College.
