WATERBURY, Conn. – Sophomore guard Kamryn Porter scored 17 points for Post University Women's Basketball as the Eagles used a 17-4 third quarter to pull away from Caldwell University, before holding off a late Cougar rally for their first conference win of the season, 55-42, on Wednesday night at home. The victory snapped a five-game losing streak to start the year in conference play and marked the second time this year in which Post has held its opponent under 40 points. 

THE BASIC

Post University 55, Caldwell University 42

Post University (3-8, 1-5 CACC)

Caldwell University (10-6, 4-5 CACC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
A trio of players for Post would be in control of an Eagle offense that scored 30 first-half points, taking a seven-point lead into the break, 30-23, over the Cougars. Porter, junior forward Alyssa Rossignol, and sophomore forward Tiara Tyson combined for 26 of the 30 points for the Eagles as Porter led the way with 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting.

By halftime, Post was shooting 12-for-26 (46.2%) from the floor, with Rossignol and Tyson each having eight points with a combined 6-for-11 shooting. Senior forward Claire Greene led the way on the boards with six rebounds as the Eagles only trailed 19-18 in the rebounding battle.

Senior guard Lucy Coogan played the entire first half for the Cougars, scoring a team-high 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting overall, but went 3-for-6 from three-point land and hit both of her free throw attempts. Caldwell struggled from the field, going only 7-for-30 (23.3%), but made up for it with four makes from three, where they were 4-for-12 (33.3%).

Trailing by five early, 8-3, which would be the largest lead Caldwell had in the first half, Rossignol and graduate guard Megan Landsiedel helped spearhead a 7-2 run for Post to tie things up at 10 all, eventually taking the lead 14-13 on a buzzer beater from Tyson to end the first.

Halfway through the second, a 6-0 run for the Eagles gave them their largest lead of the half, a seven-point edge with four points from Porter in the process. On three occasions, Post would go ahead by seven points, taking that advantage into the break after Porter recorded her team-leading 10 points with 1:15 left before both teams went scoreless.

Dominating the third, Post would outscore Caldwell by 13 points, effectively putting the game away with a 20-point lead entering the fourth. In that quarter, the Cougars were held to 1-for-11 shooting with eight turnovers as part of a 20% shooting evening overall, the lowest the Eagles have held an opponent to this season. 

Despite a late blitz in which the Eagles were outscored by seven points, 15-8, Post would hold on for a 13-point win, 55-42, despite allowing 12 turnovers due to the full-court press that Caldwell turned to. The top two scorers for the Cougars, Coogan and Lewis, were held to 25 points combined on 7-for-29 shooting (24.1%), with Coogan being held to 4-for-21 overall and 4-for-13 from three-point range with 14 points.

Beyond Porter's 17-point effort, Tyson tallied 15 points, and Rossignol finished with 11 points, rounding out a trio of Eagles who finished in double figures in the win. As a team, Post shot 20-for-48 (41.7%) overall, connecting on 13-of-20 free throws (65%), marking the third time this year in which the Eagles have shot above 40% from the field. 

For the first time this season, Post outrebounded their opponent by a narrow 41-38 margin, led by Greene's nine rebounds, while the Eagles held an opponent under 50 points for the second time this season, moving to 2-0 in such scenarios. The only other time they did that came last week when they took down the College of Staten Island on the road, 54-33, last Tuesday. 

BY THE NUMBERS  

• Kamryn Porter led Post University's offense with 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting as one of three players in double figures for the Eagles, followed by Tiara Tyson with 15 points and Alyssa Rossignol with 11 points
• Caldwell University was held to 20% shooting from the floor, going 12-for-60 overall with seven of their made shots coming from three -- The shooting percentage was the lowest Post University has held an opponent to this season
• For the first time this year, Post University won the rebounding battle, outrebounding Caldwell University, 41-38, and were led by Claire Greene with nine boards
• Post University is 2-0 this season when holding its opponent under 50 points -- The Eagles only allowed 33 points against the College of Staten Island in their victory last Tuesday

WHO'S NEXT
Post University squares off against Wilmington University this weekend on the road, with tip-off scheduled for 1:00 PM. The Eagles have won the last seven matchups against the Wildcats, including their historic 61-point win last season, 103-42, on the road.