Women's Basketball Falls, 80-62, to San Diego St. at Seton Hall Classic

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team fell to Mountain West Conference opponent, San Diego State, 80-62, in its final match of the Seton Hall Thanksgiving Classic on Sunday. Freshman Cebria Outlow led the Blue Devils in scoring with a career-high 16 points, and added six rebounds. Senior Aleah Epps chipped in 14 points and was selected to the All-Tournament Team. 

CCSU is now 1-5 overall through six contests, and SDSU increases their record to 2-4. Central shot 19-55 (34.5%), and San Diego St. made 29-of-48 (60.4%) baskets overall.

The Blue Devil defense forced the Aztecs into three turnovers in the opening minutes of the first quarter, and jumped out to a 7-2 lead, sparked by a three-pointer from Epps, who notched 19 points in Saturday's contest. The two squads traded baskets through the period, Cenral connecting on 7-13 (53.8%) field goals and the Aztecs making 5-12 (41.7%) of their attempts.

Sydney Hines answered a Geena Gomez three with 2:14 on the clock, followed by a pass ahead from Epps in transition, to senior Giocelis Reynoso for a lay-up. 

In the second quarter, CCSU struggled offensively going 0-for-7 from the field, and scoring just three points off of three foul shots from freshman Cebria Outlow, five minutes into the quarter. Following the media timeout, Epps put an end to the drought by nailing a jumper right outside the lane, making the score, 24-22. Giocelis recorded eight points and six rebounds during the half. 

SDSU chipped away at the Blue Devil lead out-scoring them, 24-11, led by seven points apiece from McKynzie Fort and Gomez. The Aztecs were ahead, 36-30 at the break. Central out-rebounded the Mountain West club 20-13, including six offensive rebounds, that they cashed in for seven points off of the second chance opportunities. 

The Aztecs came out of the halftime locker room firing, shooting 83.3% (5-6) part way through the quarter. Central fell behind by the largest deficit of the game, 25, until Patterson drained a corner three to bring the Devils back to life with 3:08 on the clock. Epps then scored on back-to-back possessions, including an emphatical "and-one" with two minutes to until the fourth. However, Central couldn't match the Aztecs collective hot shooting day, as they shot 76.9% in the quarter, and led, 61-43, heading into the final quarter of Sunday's contest.

Patterson and Epps scored on the opening possessions of the fourth, but the Aztecs went 3-for-3 from behind the arc to hold off the Blue Devil attack, maintaining their lead as time expired. SDSU had four players score in double-figures, led by Gomez and Fort, with 17 points each.

Central out-rebounded the Aztecs 32-30, led by Reynoso's double-double with 10 rebounds and career-high 12 points. 

The Central Blue Devils will have an entire week off until they take the floor against the ACC's Syracuse Orange next Sunday, Dec. 4, at 2:00 p.m. inside the Carrier Dome.