Lydon Nets Game-High, Penn State Outlasts CCSU 83-66, Monday
Lydon shot a sizzling 88.8% from the field against the Big Ten member.
The Central Connecticut women's basketball team could not outlast the Penn State Lady Lions after a hard-fought game of runs inside the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park, PA on Monday night. After erasing what was an 18-point lead with 5:28 to go in the second quarter to just four points, 50-46, with 3:33 left in the third quarter, the Lady Lions out-scored CCSU 33-20 to close out the contest.
Junior Andi Lydon had a sizzling performance from the floor, draining 8-of-9 (.888) field goal attempts including four the Blue Devils 12 three-pointers, to notch a game-high 25 points to lead the New Britain squad. The Allison Park, PA product also registered nine rebounds, three assists and one steal.
Rookie Ashley Berube ripped away a game-high 10 boards leading Central Connecticut to out-rebound the Big Ten member 44-39. Berube swatted away a career-high five blocks against the tall and lanky Lady Lion posts.
CCSU falls to 0-4 on the year and Penn State improves to 5-0.
Lydon and junior Kiana Patterson got the Blue Devils going from the very start of the game. Following a coast-to-coast layup from Patterson, Lydon and Patterson both found the back of the net on two three-pointers giving CCSU an early 8-5 lead at the first media.
Penn State regained the momentum capitalizing four quick points off a couple CCSU turnovers. The Lady Lions connected on two threes to finished out the quarter, but not before junior Sydney Hines answered with a trifecta of her own. Penn State led 21-15 at the end of one.
PSU switched its defense from a 2-3 zone to play the Blue Devils straight up in man-to-man which forced six turnovers in the quarter.The Lady Lions ran off on a 10-0 run to start the second quarter forcing Central to take a timeout with 6:39 on the game clock. CCSU settled in and out-scored the Keystone state foe 16-15 to close out the first 20 minutes of action.
Freshman Ashley Berube had a strong first half with four huge blocks against Penn State's bigs and pulled down a first-half most eight rebounds and added four points. Lydon led Central in scoring with nine points including a perfect 2-for-2 effort from downtown. Penn State knocked down six-pointers and led 46-31 at the break.
Following the halftime break, Lydon drained 3-of-3 attempts from the floor including her third three-pointer to give the Blue Devils the momentum. After the Lady Lions called a timeout with 6:22 left in the third, Central graduate Morgan Johnson and Patterson connected on back-to-back threes to extend CCSU's 15-4 run to start the second half.
After watching its 18-point lead diminish to four points, 50-46, Penn State finished six lay ups and got to the foul line once to break away from Central again. Heading into the fourth quarter CCSU trailed 67-50.
With just 10 minutes left to make a comeback, Lydon finessed in a crafty turnaround and a pair of free throws as she continued to have the hot hand. Johnson hit two consecutive corner three-pointers and Emma McCamus found Lydon for CCSU's 11th triple of the contest at the 3:10 mark on the freshman's first touch off the bench.
Penn State held a 26-12 advantage on point off turnovers and shot 20 more free throws than CCSU which proved to be the difference maker in the end. Amari Carter led PSU with 20 points and eight boards.
The Central women's basketball team will take the floor again in Detrick Gymnasium after the Thanksgiving holiday in one week on Monday, Nov. 27 hosting Albany at 7:00 p.m.
