CCSU Falls on Buzzer Beater

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team fell to Holy Cross on a buzzer beater on Wednesday night.  Brisje Malone of Holy Cross caught the inbound pass with under three seconds left to play and delivered the game's winning basket.  Just seconds earlier senior Kirsten Daamen had given Central the lead with her 20th and 21st points of the night.

The Blue Devils (2-3) built an early lead on the Crusaders (3-3).  Holy Cross' Brisje Malone hit a free throw with 10:56 left in the half that cut CCSU's lead to 15-14.  CCSU answered with three straight baskets to build a 21-14 lead. Seniors Kirsten Daamen and Jaclyn Babe and freshman Amanda Harrington were responsiblefor the scores. 

A three-point basket by Holy Cross snapped Central's run, but junior Jessica Babe scored to put the Blue Devils ahead 23-17.

From that point, Holy Cross controlled the half.  The Crusaders' closed the period on a 22-4 run and went to the half with a 36-25 advantage.

A three by Jessica Babe opened the scoring in the second half for the Blue Devils.  Daamen converted the old fashion three-point play after being fouled on a layup, but Holy Cross maintained a 41-31 lead at the first media timeout of the second half.

The Blue Devils closed the gap to 41-35 on a long jumper by junior Lauren Arbogast with 13:05 left in the game, but Holy Cross scored the next three points to take a 44-35 lead.

CCSU cut the Holy Cross lead to five with a basket by junior Jaleen Thomas with 7:44 left in the game.  A three by Jessica Babe, a jumper by Daamen and another basket by Babe put CCSU ahead 46-44 minutes later.

From that point both teams traded baskets with Central taking its final lead of the game on a basket by Daamen with nine seconds left in the game.

Following a pair of timeouts by Holy Cross, the Crusaders inbounded the ball with 2.5 seconds left in the game.  The inbound pass found Brisje Malone near the three point line.  She caught the pass, stepped right and hit the winning shot at the buzzer.

Daamen finished with a game-high 21 points.  She also had nine rebounds, two steals and a block in the game.

Jessica Babe added 14 points and Arbogast contributed 10.

Thomas finished with seven rebounds, a season-high for her.  Jessica Babe followed up Daamen and Thomas with six rebounds.  Babe also had four assists.

The Blue Devils return to action next Wednesday with a home game against Vermont.  The Blue Devils and Catamounts will tip-off at 7 p.m. in Detrick Gym.