LAKEWOOD, NJ (Dec.6th, 2025) - The Lions returned home for their season opener and caught fire, shooting 58% from three-point range.

How it Happened
• The Lions outshot the Cougars 48.5% to 36%.
• The Lions were powerful from the three-point line, shooting 58% compared to Caldwells 33%. 
• Caldwell found themselves at the line often and made it count; they shot 80% from the line and took 35 foul shots. 
• The lead changed 13 different times, and the game was tied seven times. 

First Quarter
• The Cougars started hot, scoring the first ten points of the game. 
• After four minutes of scoreless play for the Lions, Karissa Smedley nailed a three to get the Lions on board. 
• A few plays later, Alexi Hoy had her first three of the day. 
• With one second left in the first, Niyell McCargo grabbed an offensive rebound to bring the Lions within four.

Second Quarter
• Amyah Bray opened up scoring in the second quarter with back-to-back threes to give the Lions their first lead of the game.
• Lucy Coogan was fouled on a three and knocked down two of the three foul shots for Caldwell.
• Alexi Hoy hit her second three to maintain a Lion lead. 
• The Cougars attempted 13 foul shots in the second quarter and finished 10 of those. 
• The Lions hit five threes in the second. 
• Going into the half the score was 45-44, Caldwell with the lead. 

Third Quarter
• Imani Gillette gave the Lions four back-to-back points to help give them a lead. 
• The Lions limited the Cougars trips to the free-throw line in the third quarter, allowing just five points from the stripe.
• Maria Stanescu made a big impact in the third for the Lions with five defensive rebounds, three points, and three assists. 
• Both teams scored 19 in the third, allowing Caldwell to maintain that one-point lead.

Fourth Quarter
• Maria Stanescu opened up scoring with a three to return the lead to the Lions. 
• Imani Gillette added to the run with a layup of her own.
• Both teams went scoreless for the next three minutes, until Jah'Nel Lewis hit a three for the Cougars. 
• Amyah Bray then made a two for the Lions followed by another three from Alexi Hoy. 
• Caldwell remained scoreless until two minutes remaining, but by then GCU was up by nine. 
• In the next 25 seconds, a layup from Brooke Corbett and a three from Lucy Coogan brought the Cougars within four. 
• Niyell McCargo found Samantha Jones for a layup with a minute remaining. 
• With 38 seconds remaining, Samantha Jones stole it and hit the layup to give the Lions an eight-point lead. 
• The Lions defeated Caldwell 86-81. 

Lion Stat Leaders
• Alexi Hoy led with 20 points, three assists, and two steals. 
• Imani Gilette provided 11 points, nine rebounds, three assists in just 12 minutes. 
• Jade Dickinson and Karissa Smedley had 10 points. 
• Amyah Bray, Niyell McCargo, Maria Stanescu, and Samantha Jones had eight. 

For the Cougars
• Lucy Coogan had 26 points and nine rebounds.
• Jah'Nel Lewis had 25 points
• Neysa Aguilar had 14 points. 

News and Notes
• Alexi Hoy had a career high 20 points. 
• Imani Gillette eclipsed 500 career points. 
• Karissa Smedley played her 1300th minute. 

Up Next
• Lions return home Thursday to face Jefferson at 5 pm.