CCSU Women Fall to St. Francis (PA) at Home

The Central Connecticut State University women's basketball team fell to 9-15 on the season and 6-8 in Northeast Conference play, dropping a 64-45 home decision to St. Francis (PA) Saturday afternoon. Junior Kerrianne Dugan led the Blue Devils with 12 points and seven rebounds, while senior P.J. Wade added 11 points in her 114th career game for Central Connecticut. Wade has played in every game of her four year career at CCSU and today broke the school record for game played in a career, passing Gabriella Guegbelet who played 113 from 2003-2007.

The Blue Devils let St. Francis (PA) get out to a 10-2 lead start the game, including to straight three-pointers by junior Samantha Leach. The run proved to be the deciding portion of the first half as the Red Flash held a 32-25 lead at the break. CCSU got within two points at 12-10 on two free throws by junior Justina Udenze and cut the St. Francis (PA) lead to three at 22-19 with 8:37 to play on a three by Wade, but the Red Flash used an 8-2 run late in the first period to extend its lead back to nine points.

CCSU opened up the second half with the first two baskets. Dugan connected on a jumper from the top of the key and then Wade got free for a layup to cut the deficit to three at 32-29. St. Francis (PA) then went on an 11-0 run to get out to a 14 point lead at 43-29 with 00:00 to play in the game. Sophomore Rachel Chandler stopped the Red Flash run when she connected on a three-pointer, getting the pass out of the post from Wade.

After Chandler found Dugan for a layup off an inbound play to bring CCSU within seven at 45-38, St. Francis (PA) went on a 12-2 run behind the play of senior Britney Hodges and Leach to put the game out of contention. Hodges accounted for eight of the points in the run, while Leach finished two layups for four points to make it 57-40 with only 00:00 left to play.

Leach finished with a game high 21 points and added five rebounds and three assists. Hodges added 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the victory. The Red Flash forced CCSU into 28 turnovers and turned that into 23 points on the other end.

Dugan and Wade led CCSU with 12 and 11 points, respectively, while Udenze and junior Leanne Crockett recorded double figures in rebounds, tallying 11 and 10. Udenze added eight points in the defeat.

CCSU will next go on the road and play at Mount St. Mary's on February 18 and at Wagner February 20.