Smithfield, R.I. (December 28) -- Saint Anselm stayed close throughout most the second half, but came up short in a 76-65 loss to Caldwell College on Friday afternoon in the opening game of the Bryant Holiday Tournament.

In the first half, it was the Cougars that jumped out to a commanding 30-12 lead with 6:19 remaining in the opening period. The Hawks rallied back though with a 17-5 run over the next 4:50 and after a three-pointer from junior guard Justine Lyons (Reading, Mass.), the team was back within six at 35-29 with 1:29 remaining. After a pair of missed free throws and a missed jumper by Caldwell, the Hawks pulled within three after a three-pointer from Erin Higgins (Mansfield, Mass.) with 50 ticks left on the clock. Khaliqa Davis scored in the final seconds to send the game into the half at 37-32 in favor of the Cougars.

In the second half, the Hawks rallied to tie the game at 47-47 with 14:16 remaining and took their first lead since the opening minutes following a three-point play from forward Cassaundra Thorpe (Portsmouth, N.H.). Caldwell pulled back to within one at 50-49 before the Hawks again pushed the lead back to three on a jumper from Cassandra Loftus (Nashua, N.H.). The Cougars regained the lead for good with 11:22 left in the game though and knocked down a number of clutch free throws in the final minutes to account for the 76-65 final.

The Hawks were led by a 21-point effort from Higgins, who knocked down 5-of-6 from behind the three-point arc. She was joined in double figures by Thorpe with 12 points and senior Rachel Reilly (Londonderry, N.H.) with 10 points. Three Cougars finished in double figures, led by 21 points from Mackenzie Lynch. She was joined in double figures by Davis and Stephanie Cadet with 14 points each.

With the loss, the Hawks fall to 3-7 overall, while Caldwell improves to 8-1 on the season. Saint Anselm is back in action on Saturday afternoon when the Hawks take on NYIT in a 1 p.m. start on day two of the Bryant Holiday Tournament.