Babe Scores 25, WBB Falls to SFPA
Senior Jaclyn Babe scored 25 points, but the Blue Devils fell to Saint Francis (PA), 67-62.
The Central Connecticut women's basketball team fell to Saint Francis (PA), 67-62, on Monday night at DeGol Arena. The Blue Devils (6-7, 0-2 NEC) were led by 25 points from senior Jaclyn Babe. The Red Flash (7-6, 2-0 NEC) had three players score in double-digits.
After a 2-2 tie to open the game, the Red Flash took control and built an early lead. The Blue Devils were able to tie the score at 24-24 on a pair of free throws by Jaclyn Babe with 5:24 left in the half. The free throws by Babe capped a stretch in which she scored seven straight points for CCSU.
Babe finished the half with 16 points, no other Blue Devil had more than four points in the period.
Following Babe's tying free throws, Saint Francis opened up an 8-0 run to take a 32-24 advantage.
Junior Lauren Arbogast hit a basket to stop the momentum and sophomore Kaley Watras followed with free throws a minute later, but the Red Flash carried a 42-28 lead into the half.
The Blue Devils battled through the second half and finally cut the Red Flash lead to single-digits on a jumper by junior Jaleen Thomas with 10 minutes left in the game. Junior Jessica Babe followed with a jumper and Watras added a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to five points with 8:27 remaining in the game. A free throw by Jaclyn Babe capped Central's run and had the Blue Devils trailing by four with 7:42 left in the game.
A short burst by Saint Francis pushed the gap back to eight points, but CCSU rallied again and finally cut the deficit to a single basket on a jumper by Thomas with 1:31 left to play.
Thomas' basket was the closest the Blue Devils would get as the Red Flash pulled away over the final 90 seconds to win by five points.
Ali Williams led the Red Flash with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Shene Fleming also had a double-double for Saint Francis. She had 13 points, 14 rebounds.
Watras was the Blue Devils' second leading scorer with 12 points in the game. She also had three rebounds, three steals and two assists.
Sophomore Johnna Fisher came off the bench to play the bulk of minutes at center. She chipped in six points and four rebounds in 18 minutes.
Arbogast registered four points and four rebounds in 13 minutes off the bench. She also had a steal.
Jessica Babe had a solid all-around game for the Blue Devils. She posted seven points, eight assists and six rebounds. Babe also had seven steals and a block in 37 minutes of action.
Thomas also played well with six points, five rebounds and three steals.
The Blue Devils played much better in the second half of the game. CCSU out-scored the Red Flash, 34-25, after halftime and forced Saint Francis to turn the ball over 19 times in the second half, while the Blue Devils had just four turnovers over the final 20 minutes.
The Blue Devils return to action on Saturday against Bryant. That game will be played at Detrick Gym and will air live on CPTV Sports. The tip is scheduled for 1 p.m.
