Women's Basketball Edges FDU, 62-61

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team earned a 62-61 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday afternoon.  The Blue Devils (11-16, 5-12 NEC) trailed by 12 points in the second half, but came back to win on a pair of free throws by senior Jessica Babe with 20 seconds remaining in the game.  The Knights (2-26, 1-16 NEC) scored just three points over the final seven and a half minutes of the contest.

Sophomore Raven Makins sparked the Blue Devils in the second half with eight points including a go-ahead three-pointer with 2:09 left to play.

Makins' three put CCSU in front 60-58 with just over two minutes remaining.  FDU countered with a three by Kelsey Cruz with 37 seconds on the clock, but Babe was fouled on the ensuing CCSU possession and converted both free throw attempts.

The Blue Devils opened the game with a 7-0 run over the first three minutes and 45 seconds, but, following a FDU timeout, the Knights rolled off six straight points and eventually took a 10-9 lead.

The Knights opened up an eight-point lead by halftime behind nine points from Desiree Crawford and eight from Cruz.

In the second half, FDU expaned its lead to 12 points with 9:40 left to play and then led by 10 with 7:35 left in the game after a three-pointer by Cruz that put FDU up 58-48.

FDU would only score three more points in the contest as the CCSU defense held the Knights scoreless over a seven-minute period.

The Blue Devils comeback was fueled by Makins who dropped in eight points in the second half.  She also had two steals and an assist.

Sophomore Amanda Harrington scored eight of her team-high 16 points in the second half.  She finished the game with a near double-double of 16 points and eight rebounds.

Senior Lauren Arbogast also had a strong showing with 12 points and seven rebounds.  Arbogast was an efficient five-of-eight from the floor, including two-of-two from beyond the arc.

The Blue Devils held a 46-35 advantage on the boards, including 22 offensive rebounds that led to 25 second chance points.

Babe finished with six points, nine rebounds and five assists.

For FDU, Cruz led all players with 20 points.

The road victory is the first for CCSU since defeating Wagner on Jan. 11, 2014. 

The Blue Devils will wrap-up the 2014 season on Monday night against Bryant.  CCSU and the Bulldogs will tip-off at 7 p.m. from Detrick Gym.