Udenze Records Double-Double, Blue Devils Fall to Sacred Heart

Senior center Justina Udenze put on a show on senior night at Detrick Gym, but it was not enough as the Blue Devils fell to the Pioneers of Sacred Heart, 71-55. The loss drops the Blue Devils to 16-10 on the season and 9-7 in Northeast Conference action. Udenze led the Blue Devils with 23 points and 19 rebounds. Freshman Jessica Babe contributed a career-high 14 points.

The Blue Devils fell behind early to the Pioneers as both teams came out shooting the basketball well in the first half. Udenze dominated offensively in the first half hitting six of nine shots for 12 points. Junior Alexzandria Dowdy contributed six points on three of four shooting and Babe was two of two from behind the arc and two of two from the line.

Defensively for the Blue Devils Udenze grabbed four rebounds and made a steal, while senior Leanne Crockett had two boards, two steals and a block. Senior Kerrianne Dugan added three of the Blue Devils 15 boards in the period.

After the break the Blue Devils battled finally cutting the led to single digits with 1:40 left in the game when Udenze hit a free throw to make it 58-49. It was to little to late as Sacred Heart pulled away as the Blue Devils begin to foul intentionally.

Udenze grabbed 15 of her career-high 19 rebounds after the break, and she alos dropped in another 11 points giving her a game-high 23. Babe tacked on six more points to her total, she finished with a career-high 14 points to go along with four rebounds. Babe was six of six from the free throw line in the game, but she was the only Blue Devil to shoot above 50% for the game.

The Blue Devils return to action on Saturday at Long Island University, tip-off is scheduled for 11:30 AM. The game will be carried live on Madison Square Garden netowrk, Fox College Sports and Cox.