CALDWELL, NJ. – Southern Connecticut women's basketball defeated Caldwell, 65-58 in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon. The Cougars dropped to an overall record of 4-5 and the Owls improved to an overall record of 8-2. Three players finished the game in double figures for Southern Connecticut.
Katie Williamson led the team with 20 points and 12 rebounds, as this was her first double-double of the season and the 10th of her career. In addition, she shot 9-for-18 from the floor, made two free-throws and added two assists.
Delaney Haines had 14 points, with a team-best of four three-pointers, had two steals and an assist.
Hope Fox recorded 13 points, as she was 6-for-10 from the field, grabbed eight boards, dished out four assists and had four steals.
Jillian Martin had nine points, had a career-best of 9 made free-throws, which still ranks her with one of the best free-throw percentages in Division II. Additionally, Martin had a team-best of four assists.
Ally Sentance had five points, two rebounds and two assists.
Rheyna Steinauer recorded four points, had three rebounds, three steals and was 2-for-2 from the free-throw line line.
In the first quarter, the Cougars jumped to a 4-0 lead, but
Katie Williamson and
Rheyna Steinauer tied up the game for the Owls. Both teams exchanged baskets, with no team in full control until three minutes left on the clock. It was Southern who ended the quarter with a 6-0 run, with two three-pointers by
Delaney Haines and
Hope Fox.
In the second quarter, the Owls picked up where they left off with two made baskets by Haines and
Ally Sentance. Southern extended their lead to 15 points halfway through as Caldwell put points on the board to cut into the Owls' lead. Three points from
Jillian Martin helped Southern head into halftime with an eight-point advantage.
Delaney Haines and
Katie Williamson both led the team with nine points each.
In the third quarter,
Hope Fox got the scoring going for Southern, with an assist from Williamson. For much of the quarter, it was more of a defensive battle between the Owls and Cougars; however, on the offensive side of the ball, Caldwell capitalized on their opportunities. Williamson had nine points to help the Owls extend their lead to 46-41.
In the fourth quarter, Southern increased their lead to 12 points early on, but Caldwell wasn't going away. With less than four minutes left in the game, the Owls worked to keep a close, four-point lead. However, with 1:40 left, the Cougars cut the Owls' lead to two points and seconds later, they then took the lead with a three-pointer in the corner, to put them up 58-57.
Down by one with less than a minute on the clock, Southern needed to respond and
Hope Fox answered with a made layup and an assist by
Jillian Martin, her fourth of the day. Martin was huge in the final minute as she headed to the free-throw line, three times and made all six free-throws. Southern played great defense against Caldwell and finished out the game strong, with a 65-58 win on the road.
The Owls comes back to the Moore Field House for the start of a four-game homestand to end the year and to the start the new year. It all begins on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 5:30 pm against Dominican University of New York in a non-conference matchup. On Sunday, Dec. 22, the Owls will face their last opponent of the 2024 calendar year at 1:30 p.m. against Molloy University in non-conference action. To open 2025, Southern will play Pace University on Thursday, Jan. 2 at 5:30 p.m. in an NE10 matchup then on Sunday, Jan. 5, the Owls will face Assumption University at 1:30 p.m. in NE10 action in the Moore Field House.
