Women's Basketball Ends Season with 83-77 Loss at Saint Francis U Sunday

Senior TeJahne Malone posted her sixth double-double of the season with 24 points and 11 rebounds, but the Central Connecticut women's basketball team fell to the Saint Francis U Red Flash, 83-77, on Sunday in the quarterfinal round of the 2016 Northeast Conference Tournament. The loss ends the Blue Devils' season with a record of 12-18, while the Red Flash improve to 14-16 and advance to the NEC Tournament semifinals.

The game featured big run after big run and big shot after big shot as the back-and-forth, high-scoring contest was tied eight different times and saw the lead change hands 14 times.

Central got off to a hot start and raced out to an early 18-11 lead over the Red Flash halfway through the first quarter. The Blue Devils were on fire from the field over that stretch hitting on 7 of their first 10 attempts from the floor. The Red Flash responded though and closed out the opening quarter with a 10-4 run to pull within 22-21 at the end of one.

The Blue Devils caught fire again to open the second quarter and used a 9-1 run over the first three minutes of the period to take their largest lead of the game, 31-22. Malone opened the frame with a layup followed by a deep three from sophomore Camden Musgrave to make it 27-21. SFU's Courtney Zezza sunk a free throw before CCSU rattled off four straight points to complete the run.

Saint Francis U would punch back again though and go on an 11-4 spurt to get within 35-33 with 2:46 left to play before halftime. Katie Reese fueled the surge for the Red Flash with seven points and capped the run with an acrobatic three-point play.

Both teams would trade buckets over the final few minutes of the first half until SFU's Zezza converted on a layup with 12 seconds left to tie the game, 40-40, heading into the half. Malone led the way for CCSU at the break with 11 points, while Reese had 15 to pace the Red Flash.

The Red Flash controlled the game to begin the second half and outscored the Blue Devils 16-5 over the first five minutes of the third quarter, utilizing a 10-0 spurt to take their largest lead of the game, 56-45, with 5:29 left on the clock in the third period. Jessica Kovatch took over for the Red Flash and scored 11 points for SFU during the run, including 10-straight at one point.

The Blue Devils showed resilience though and didn't quit as they responded with a huge 14-2 run of their own to retake the lead 59-58 just before the end of the third quarter. Central scored 10 unanswered points during the run to claw back into the contest. Freshman Andi Lydon buried a corner three with 1:13 left in the third quarter to complete the comeback and give the Blue Devils back the lead. Central would go on to hold a 64-63 edge heading into the final period.

CCSU would go up by as many as four, 71-67, after a Malone layup with 7:13 left to play in the fourth quarter, but the Red Flash used a late 11-3 run over the final three minutes of the game to claim the 83-77 victory. Kovatch once again powered the Red Flash with six points during the spurt.

Malone finished her career as a Blue Devil with a huge double-double, logging 24 points and 11 rebounds to pace Central. Junior Aleah Epps also had an excellent game finishing with 12 points, eight assists, five steals and five rebounds. Musgrave also joined Malone and Epps in double-figures with 11 points.

Central shot 37.8% (28-74) in the game, including 29.2% (7-24) from beyond the arc. They were also 87.5% (14-16) from the free throw line and had 18 assists in the loss. Defensively, CCSU forced 18 Red Flash turnovers, including 13 steals and turned them into 22 points.

Saint Francis U hit for 43.8% (28-64) from the field, including 30.8% (8-26) from three. SFU converted at a 70.4% (19-27) clip from the chalk and had eight blocks in the win. They also won the battle on the glass out rebounding the Blue Devils 46-40 and had 12 second chance points to CCSU's four.

The Red Flash had four players in double digits led by Kovatch who finished with 24. Reese added 20 of her own and Aisha Brock and Maya Wynn chipped in with 13 and 11 points, respectfully.