Women's Hoops Tops UNH by 39

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team defeated New Hampshire 83-44 on Sunday afternoon in Detrick Gym.  The Blue Devils scored a season-high 42 first half points to take control of the game.  Junior Jaclyn Babe scored 13 of her game-high 22 points in the first half as her team rolled to a season-high 83 points and a 3-1 record on the season.

The 39-point victory tied for the third largest winning margin in the programs Division I history. The other 39-point victory for Central came on December 30, 1997, when Central dropped North Carolina A & T, 78-39. The last time the Blue Devils had won a game by 30 points was against Lamar, 62-32, on November 30, 2002.

The Central offense was clicking in the first half as the Blue Devils scored 42 points with a lofty 68.0 shooting percentage in the half.  Junior Kirsten Daamen led the way hitting on five-of-five shots.  Daamen totaled 10 points in the half to go along with a pair of blocks.

It was Jaclyn Babe and junior Brooke Bailey's three-point shooting that helped Central open a 20-point lead at the break.  Both Babe and Bailey were two-for-two from three-point range, helping them account for 13 and nine points, respectively in the half.

The Blue Devil defense limited the Wildcats to 22 points on eight-of-26 shooting in the first half.  In addition to Daamen's two blocks, Central also received contributions from sophomore Jessica Babe who posted three steals and Jaclyn Babe who recorded two.

After the break the Blue Devils continued to score.  Central fell just short of matching their first half point total of 42, with a 41-point second half.  Jaclyn Babe scored another nine points in the second half to finish with 22, and Daamen added eight more for a total of 18 points in the game.

Daamen was a key factor in the Blue Devils outscoring the Wildcats 44-18 in the paint.  The Blue Devils also outscored New Hampshire 12-2 in transition.

The Blue Devils finished with a season-high 57.4 shooting percentage for the game.  Leading the effort was Jaclyn Babe who finished eight-of-10 from the field and three-of-three from beyond the arc.

The Central defense limited the Wildcats to 22 points in each half and a 27.3 shooting percentage for the game.  The Blue Devils also forced 20 turnovers including 12 steals.

Jessica Babe finished with game-highs for assists and rebounds with nine and seven.  She also recorded five steals, which runs her total to 14 in only three games this season.

Bailey also finished in double-digit points, finishing with 14.

The Blue Devils stretched their lead to 41 points late in the second half before allowing New Hampshire's final basket of the afternoon.

The 83 points tie for the most the Blue Devils have scored under Coach Beryl Piper.  During Piper's second season the Blue Devils scored 83 in a 20-point victory over Colgate.  The total is also the most since the Blue Devils scored 85 points in a victory over Monmouth during the 2000-01 season.

The Blue Devils are now 12-2 at home since the beginning of the 2010-11 season.  Their next four games will all be at home, starting with Wednesday's "Pack the House" Game with Holy Cross.  That game will tip-off at 7:00 p.m.