Women's Basketball Edged by Mount St Mary's Saturday, 54-48

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team was outscored 24-10 in the paint as the Mount Saint Mary's Mountaineers shot 50.0% (19-38) on their way to a 54-48 victory over the Blue Devils on Saturday night in Emmitsburg, MD. The loss drops Central to 3-11 overall and 0-3 in Northeast Conference play. The Mount improves to 4-10 on the season and 2-1 in NEC action.

Senior TeJahne Malone led the way for the Blue Devils with 13 points and eight rebounds. She also added three steals. Freshman Kiana Patterson joined Malone in double-figures with 12 points and chipped in with three assists in the setback.

At the end of the third quarter the Blue Devils trailed 48-34, but opened the final period with a 10-2 run to pull within six, 50-44, with 5:24 left to play in the game. Patterson capped the run with a four-point play as she hit a corner three and was fouled and made the ensuing free throw.

Central would go on and get as close as four, 52-48, with 3:21 left in regulation, but the Blue Devils missed their final six field goal attempts and the Mount would hit two-of-four from the free throw line to seal the game for the Mountaineers, 54-48.

The Mount shot 50.0% (19-38) from the floor in the win including 71.4% (5-7) from beyond the arc. They had three players in double-figures led by Alexis Carter who finished with 13. She was joined by Jessica Harris and Kayla Bates who each added 11.

The Blue Devils struggled from the field shooting just 26.3% (15-57) in the game including 27.3% (6-22) from distance. However, Central won the battle from the free throw line converting at an 80.0% (12-15) clip compared to the Mount's 39.3% (11-28) to keep them in the contest.

The Blue Devils would jump out to a quick 5-0 lead less than two minutes into the game, but that would be the largest lead of the game for CCSU. The Mount would respond with a 10-3 run to take the lead for good as Mount St. Mary's held a 34-23 lead at halftime after shooting 54.5% (12-22) over the first two quarters. They controlled the the paint in the first half outscoring CCSU 16-0 in the lane.

Both teams pulled down 35 rebounds each in the game and the Blue Devils forced 20 Mount St. Mary's turnover, including nine steals. Central finished with 17 turnovers.

The CCSU women's basketball team will return to action next on Monday night as they play the second of a tough three game NEC road swing at Fairleigh Dickinson. Tip-off in Teaneck, NJ is scheduled for 7 p.m. and all of the action can be seen live, for free, on NECFrontRow.com.