Women's Basketball Edges Robert Morris Monday Night

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team edged the Robert Morris Colonials on Monday night, 48-39, inside Detrick Gymnasium in New Britain, CT. The Blue Devils defense stymied the Colonials all game forcing 19 turnovers and allowing just 39 points, the fewest that Robert Morris has scored since they fell 68-35 at Michigan State on Nov. 25, 2012. With the win Central has now won two straight and four of its last five, improving its record to 7-12 overall and 4-4 in Northeast Conference action.

Sophomore Camden Musgrave led the Blue Devils with a game-high 15 points in the victory. She was joined in double-figures by junior Aleah Epps who added 11. Senior Kayla Miller also chipped in with six points and a game-high nine rebounds for CCSU.

Central's defense held Robert Morris to just 29.1% (16-55) shooting in the game, including 18.8% (3-16) from beyond the arc. It marks the second straight game that the Blue Devils have held their opponent under 30.0% shooting from the floor and 20.0% shooting from distance.

CCSU opened the game on a 10-0 run and held the Colonial scoreless for the first 7:52 of the first quarter. The Blue Devils led 11-3 at the end of the opening period, posting back-to-back quarters where they have held their opponent to single digit scoring.

Robert Morris would answer in the second quarter though as they began to get things going and rattled off a 10-1 run to start the second period of play to take their first lead of the game, 13-12, at the 5:08 mark before halftime.

Central would quickly answer right back however, and went on another 10-0 run to rebuild its lead to 22-13 with just under two minutes remaining before the intermission. Epps nailed a three pointer and then freshman Kiana Patterson hit a jumper to cap the run for the Blue Devils.

The Colonials were able to end the run and keep the Blue Devils off the board over the final two minutes of play though as CCSU entered the locker rooms leading 22-17.

Both teams traded buckets to begin the second half of play, but the Colonials would surge and close the third quarter with a 10-2 run to pull within one, 32-31, heading into the final period.

CCSU relied on its defense in the final quarter and it stood tall as the Blue Devils once again held their opponent to just eight points in the final period of play. Central outscored RMU 16-8 in the period and used clutch free throw shooting down the stretch to seal the 48-39 victory for the Blue Devils. Central hit seven-of-10 free throw attempts in the final minute of play, including five-of-eight from Epps.

Musgrave led all scorers with a game-high 15 points and Epps added 11. The Colonials held a slight 40-39 edge on the glass, but Miller finished with a game-high nine boards for CCSU. Junior Giocelis Reynoso also grabbed a career-high eight rebounds in 20 minutes of action for Central in the win.

The Blue Devils will return to action next as they continue their five game home stand and host Saint Francis Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon in the front end of a NEC doubleheader inside Detrick Gymansium. Tip-off between the Blue Devils and Terriers is slated for 1 p.m. and all of the action can be seen live, for free, on NECFrontRow.com.