OT Win Over Mount, Winning Streak at 4

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team earned a 77-73 overtime victory against Mount St. Mary's on Monday night at Detrick Gym.  The Blue Devils were led by senior Jaclyn Babe's 26 points, but it was junior Lauren Arbogast's jumper with 2:39 left in overtime that put CCSU ahead for good.

CCSU has now won four straight games and five straight home games.

The Blue Devils (10-7, 4-2 NEC) led 57-47 with 6:05 left in the game, but a 16-4 run by the Mount (8-9, 4-2 NEC) over the ensuing five minutes had CCSU trailing with under a minute to play.  Junior Jessica Babe was able to tie the game at 63-63 with a jumper and sophomore Johnna Fisher's block of Rachel Mathews' shot on the following Mount St. Mary's possession forced overtime.

The teams traded baskets to start overtime and the score was tied three times in the extra period. The final tie was forced when Fisher hit a pair of free throws with 3:26 left in the game.  Arbogast's jumper a minute later gave CCSU a 70-68 lead, which the Blue Devils were able to protect over the final minutes.

In the first half, Arbogast's three at the buzzer gave the Blue Devils a 38-29 lead at the half, but it was Jaclyn Babe's 16 points that pushed the Central offense in the opening period.  Babe was 6-of-11 from the field and 2-of-3 three from behind the three-point arc.

The Blue Devils also dominated on the boards in the first period.  CCSU pulled down 30 rebounds compared to 17 for the Mountaineers.  Of CCSU's 30 rebounds 14 came on the offensive glass.  Senior Kirsten Daamen led the squad with seven.  She was followed by Jaclyn Babe, Arbogast and Jessica Babe who each had five boards in the period.

After a slow start to the second half, the Blue Devils broke the game open with a 6-0 run that pushed their lead to 12 points.  The run was fueled by jumpers from Daamen and Arbogast. Sophomore Kaley Watras capped the stretch by driving into the lane and floating a shot over her defender.

Central's biggest lead of the game was 12 points and came with 11:23 left in regulation.  Watras hit a jumper in the paint to put her team up 51-39.

Following Watras' basket, CCSU was able to maintain a lead between seven and 10 points up to the 6:05 mark when Watras put the team up 55-47.  From their the Mountaineers went on their strong closing run.

Jaclyn Babe finished with a game-high 26 points.  She was joined in double-digits by Watras (15) and Arbogast (13).

Arbogast also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds to finish with her first career double-double.

Right behind Arbogast were Jaclyn Babe, Jessica Babe, Watras and Daamen who all had nine rebounds for the Blue Devils.  As a team CCSU finished with 59 rebounds, two off the season-high that was set on Saturday.

Watras was efficient with her shooting, she connected on six-of-eight attempts, including 1-of-1 from behind the three-point arc.

The Blue Devils improve to 4-0 in overtime this season and are now 10-2 in overtime games under head coach Beryl Piper.

CCSU has now reached double-digit wins for the fifth straight season.

The Blue Devils will return to action next Saturday at Detrick Gym.  CCSU and Saint Francis Brooklyn will tip-off at 1 p.m.