Women's Basketball Eyes First NEC Win at Fairleigh Dickinson Monday Night

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team (3-11, 0-3 NEC) will look to break into the win column in Northeast Conference play as they travel to Teaneck, NJ to take on the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (4-12, 1-2 NEC) on Monday night. Tip-off between the Blue Devils and Knights is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Stratis Arena and all of the action can be seen live, for free, on NECFrontRow.com.

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Tonight • The Central Connecticut women's basketball team (3-11, 0-3 NEC) looks to rebound after dropping its first three games in Northeast Conference action as they travel down to Teaneck, NJ Monday night to face the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (4-12, 1-2 NEC). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. inside Stratis Arena and all of the action can be seen live, for free, on NECFrontRow.com.

Previously For Both Teams • The Blue Devils are coming off a 54-48 setback to the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers in Emmitsburg, MD on Saturday. 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. 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, 54-48. Senior TeJahne Malone led the way for CCSU with 13 points and eight rebounds. FDU is coming off a 72-61 loss at Sacred Heart on Saturday. The Knights were outscored 26-10 in the final period to suffer the loss. FDU was led by Brianna Thomas who finished with 19 points.

Series History (21-15) • Tonight's game marks the 37th meeting all-time between the two teams at the Division I level. Central hold a 21-15 edge in the series and has won the last four straight meetings against the Knights, including the last two in Teaneck. Last season, the Blue Devils topped the Knights, 82-53, at home in both teams NEC opener on Jan. 3 before taking down FDU again, 77-56, inside Stratis Arena on Feb. 28 to clinch the top seed for the 2015 NEC Tournament.

Piper vs. FDU • Head Coach Beryl Piper is 11-4 all-time against Fairleigh Dickinson entering her ninth season at the helm of the Blue Devils, but is just 4-3 facing the Knights on the road in Teaneck, NJ.

Road Blues • The Blue Devils have yet to win a game away from Detrick Gymansium this season and enter tonight's contest 0-9 on the road.
On The Road Again • Tonight's game marks the second of a tough three-game NEC road trip for the Blue Devils. After tonight's game CCSU will travel to Staten Island, NY to face the Wagner Seahawks in the Spiro Center next Saturday (1/16) before returning home to host Sacred Heart next Monday (1/18). It marks the second three game road trip for CCSU this season.

Scouting Fairleigh Dickinson • The Knights are  4-11 on the season, 1-2 in NEC action and sport a 3-6 mark at home so far this year. They average 62.4 ppg and are led by Kelsey Cruz who averages 17.3 ppg. Cruz does a little bit of everything, but also likes to shoot the three, connecting on 23-of-74 (31.1%) attempts on the season. The Blue Devils will also have to control Erika Livermore who averages 16.1 ppg and is FDU's big player. She shoots 48.6% (101-208) from the floor and pulls down a team-high 7.1 rpg.

Up Next For CCSU • The Blue Devils will return to action next as they travel to Wagner on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. tip inside the Spire Center. it completes CCSU's three game NEC road swing.