WBB Tops Rider in OT, 62-61

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team defeated Rider, 62-61, in overtime on Friday night at Detrick Gym.  Sophomore Kaley Watras hit a jumper with seconds remaining in overtime that gave CCSU a one point lead and the victory.  Junior Jessica Babe had tied the game at 55-55 with the final basket of regulation.

Watras finished the game with nine points, including three in overtime.  Seniors Jaclyn Babe and Kirsten Daamen were CCSU's leading scorers with 17 points each.

The Blue Devils (5-4) opened the game with an impressive 51.9% shooting in the first half.  The Blue Devil offense was led by Jaclyn Babe who scored 10 points in the period.  Babe also was a major factor in CCSU's nine-point halftime lead when she produced a 6-0 run late in the first half, including a steal and fast break layup.

Freshman Kayla Miller also helped spark the offense in the opening period.  Miller came off the bench to produce four assists and five rebounds in just 11 minutes on the floor.

CCSU hit 14-of-27 shots in the period and the Blue Devils were also three-for-three from the free throw line in the period.  The Broncs (5-5) shot just 27% in the first half.

Junior Lauren Arbogast and Daamen both posted six points in the first half.

Daamen, five, and Jaclyn Babe, four, helped CCSU maintain a nine point lead over the first four and a half minutes of the second half.  

Rider tied the game at 44-44 with 9:41 left to play on a three pointer by Kornelija Valiuskyte.

The Broncs controlled the action over the ensuing seven minutes, but CCSU was able to rally and tie the game at 55-55 with 2:10 remaining.  Jaclyn Babe hit a three to make it a 55-53 and after a Rider miss, Jessica Babe hit a layup to tie the game.

Neither team scored again in regulation and the game went to overtime tied at 55-55.

CCSU scored first in overtime with a jumper by Daamen, but Rider answered with a pair of free throws that tied the game at 57-57.

Watras put Central ahead 58-57 by hitting one-of-two free throws, but on the ensuing possession Rider hit two-of-two from the line to take a 59-58 lead.  The teams traded baskets to put Rider up 61-60 with just seconds remaining and CCSU inbounding the ball.

Watras put the Blue Devils ahead with 14.3 seconds left on a jumper from the left side.  The basket put CCSU up 62-61 and proved to be the winner.

Jessica Babe posted a game-high 10 rebounds.  The performance was also Central's first double-digit rebound game of the season.

The Blue Devils close out the 2012 calendar year with a tournament at the University of Miami.  Central will play the host Hurricanes in the opening round game and Wisconsin and Deleware State will play the other game of the opening night.