Ewing, NJ … The College of New Jersey women's basketball team staged a late-game run, but fell short in a 68-59 setback to Stockton University on Wednesday evening in Packer Hall.
 
Trailing by 16 points entering the fourth quarter, the Lions (8-10, 5-7 NJAC) maintained their competitive edge and closed the gap to four points. But the Ospreys (13-5, 8-3 NJAC) hung tough to remain in third place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference standings.
 
TCNJ junior Charlotte Schum (East Hanover, NJ/Morris Catholic) registered her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Classmate Chiara Palombi (Manasquan, NJ/Manasquan) tallied 11 points, while sophomore guard Kate O'Leary (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) and Katy Amato (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) each added eight points.
 
The Ospreys built a 15-point lead in the first half on 51 percent shooting. The lead grew to as large as 19 points in the second half, but TCNJ battled back to create some tension on the Stockton sideline. A pair of three-pointers by Schum cut the deficit to 10 points with 7:04 left in the match. Palombi then hit from the corner and followed with a pair of free throws to draw the Lions within six at 56-50.
 
The Lions scrapped under the boards, collecting five offensive rebounds in a span of two minutes. Palombi grabbed a sixth offensive board and dropped it through the hoop to pull within four at 58-54 with 2:31 remaining.
 
Stockton guard Lea Mendolla connected from behind the arc with just over a minute remaining and she and Sasha Williams deposited their free throws to hold off the host comeback and seal the conference road win.
 
Mendolla and Williams led scorers with 15 points. Williams also compiled 12 boards, while Naomi Treadwell finished 14 points and six rebounds.
 
The Lions will host New Jersey City University this Saturday. The NJAC match-up is scheduled for 3 p.m.