Women's Basketball Drops NEC Home Opener to Long Island

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team fell to Long Island by a score of 63-51, on Saturday afternoon. The loss drops the Blue Devils to 0-3 in Northeast Conference play and 7-6 overall on the season. It was the first home loss of the season for either of the Blue Devil basketball teams. Senior Kerrianne Dugan led the Blue Devils with 16 points in a game-high 37 minutes.

The Blue Devils fell behind early trailing by five points only two minutes into the game. A three pointer from junior Alexzandria Dowdy and a basket from Dugan tied the Blue Devils and Blackbirds at 8-8. Central never trailed again in the half and led by as many as 11.

The Blue Devils built the lead with four points from senior Justina Udenze and Dugan, Dowdy hit a three to cap the run and put Central ahead 26-15, with 6:47 left in the period. The Blackbirds had a late run in them which dropped the Central lead to one point before senior Leanne Crockett hit a three pointer to send her team to the half ahead 30-26.

Long Island took over the game in the second half scoring 37 points and allowing the Blue Devils on 21. Eight of the 21 points came in the final minute of the game as Central tried to comeback. Udenze hit a lay up and Crockett hit a pair of three pointers to cut Long Island's lead to 12, but that is where it remained as the Blackbirds pulled out a 63-51 victory.

Dugan had a team-high 16 points, including 13 of the teams 30 in the first half. Freshman Jessica Babe had a game-high eight rebounds. She and Dugan shared a game-high four assists.

In a battle of the NEC's top two rebounders, Long Island junior Ashley Palmer and Crockett came out even as each grabbed 7 rebounds in the game.

The Blue Devils last loss at home also came against Long Island, Feb. 25, 2010.

The Blue Devils return to action on Monday, when they host Northeast Conference rival St. Francis (NY), tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.