Women's Basketball Rolls, Daamen Scores 21

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team topped Wagner by a score of 82-53 on Saturday afternoon.  The Blue Devils (9-7, 3-2 NEC) were led by senior Kirsten Daamen's 21 points and 11 rebounds.  The Seahawks fall to 2-14 and 1-4 in the Northeast Conference with the loss.

The Blue Devils dominated the Seahawks in the paint throughout the game.  CCSU scored 52 of its season-high 82 points in the lane.  Daamen's 21 points led CCSU, but all of the Blue Devil centers contributed to the scoring.

Senior Jameilia Dillon scored nine points off the bench and sophomore Johnna Fisher added six points during her time on the court.  The Blue Devil center's, Daamen, Dillon and Fisher, combined for 36 points and 18 rebounds in the game.

On the outside, senior Jaclyn Babe scored 19 points to join Daamen in double-digits.  Babe was efficient from the floor and connected on nine-of-13 shot attempts.  She was also 1-of-3 from behind the three-point arc.  Babe also contributed four rebounds and six assists.

The Blue Devils' top scorers in the game, Daamen and Babe, played just 19 and 21 minutes, respectively.

Daamen was also the game's leading rebounder with 11 boards.  As a team, the Blue Devils collected a season-high 61 rebounds.  Wagner was limited to just 23 boards in the contest.  All 13 CCSU players who dressed for the game saw action and each recorded at least one rebound.

Following Daamen on the glass were junior Jessica Babe (8), junior Lauren Arbogast (7), Fisher (6), junior Jaleen Thomas (6), Jaclyn Babe (4), freshman Kayla Miller (4), sophomore Kaley Watras (3), redshirt freshman Amanda Harrington (2), freshman Nicole Ferguson (2), freshman TeJahne Malone (2), Dillon (1) and freshman Raven Makins (1).

In addition to having their best rebounding game of the season, the Blue Devils also shot 47.9% from the field, one of the team's best shooting performances of the year.

Jessica Babe finished with five points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals.  Watras finished with seven points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Jaclyn Babe, Miller, Makins and Fisher also had steals in the game.

The Blue Devils led 43-31 at the half and outscored the Seahawks 39-22 in the second period.  Central broke the game open with a 19-8 run over the final seven minutes of the first half.  That run pushed the CCSU lead from 24-23 to 43-31 at the break.

The 83 points are the most for the Blue Devils in a regulation game since November 27, 2011.  That night the Blue Devils topped New Hampshire 83-44 at Detrick Gym.  CCSU also scored 83 points in a double overtime loss to Saint Francis U last February.

The Blue Devils' 61 rebounds are the most in a game in the six seasons under head coach Beryl Piper.

The Blue Devils return to action on Monday night against Mount St. Mary's.  That game will tip-off at 7 p.m. in Detrick Gym.