Women's Hoops Falls to Rhode Island, 64-52

Junior Kerrianne Dugan and freshman Brooke Bailey each tallied 12 points, but Central Connecticut State University fell to Rhode Island by a score of 64-52 at home on Wednesday night. It was Dugan's third double digit scoring performance of the season, while Bailey reached double figures for the first time in her young career at Central. CCSU falls to 2-4 on the season while the Rams improve to 3-4 overall.

Rhode Island went on a 10-2 run near the end of the first half to open up a 31-21 lead with 36 seconds remaining. The lead was enough to hold off the Blue Devils for the rest of the game as the Rams led the entire second half. CCSU made things interesting in the final moments of the opening frame, starting with a jumper in the paint by Bailey with eight seconds to go. Sophomore Shontice Simmons then stole a Rhode Island pass and threw it off of a Ram player to gain possesion with three seconds remaining. Simmons then found Bailey for a layup off of the inbounds play to cut the deficit to 31-25 at the half.

Bailey led with six points at the half, while senior P.J. Wade recorded five. Junior Leanne Crockett had eight rebounds in the first half of play. URI got out to the first half lead on 46.4 percent shooting from the field, while the Blue Devils were held to just 32.4 percent shooting and were one for eight from three point land.

CCSU picked up on the defensive side of the ball to start the second half, recording six steals in the first four minutes. Sophomore Alexzandria Dowdy tallied three, Crockett picked up two and Dugan grabbed one during the stretch. The Blue Devils' defense did not convert itself into offense, as CCSU outscored the Rams by a mark of 2-0 during the four minute span.

A three point basket by Rhode Island's Megan Shoniker with the shot clock running down gave the Rams a 54-44 lead with 3:33 remaining in the game and put it out of contention. CCSU did not get closer than seven points the rest of the way, as URI hit free throws down the stretch to come away with the 64-52 victory.

Dugan and Bailey led Central with 12 points a piece. The former added six rebounds, four assists and three steals, while the latter recorded five rebounds in the defeat. Crockett finished with a game high 13 rebounds, which gives the forward five double digit rebound performances in CCSU's six games this season. Dowdy ended with a game high five steals for the Blue Devils. It tied the sophomore's career mark in the category.

Rhode Island was led by Shoniker's 22 points, while three other Rams chipped in with 10. Freshmen Ashley Rivera and Anisha Wilson, as well as senior Andrea Buck each reached double figures in the victory. Buck and senior Lindsay Harris led URI with eight boards a piece.

CCSU, now 2-4 on the season, will next travel to Long Island for the first Northeast Conference contest of the year. The tip off is set for 2:00 p.m. in Brooklyn, NY.

The 2009-10 men's and women's basketball seasons are brought to you by Farmington Bank.
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