Blue Devils Post Season-High 20 Assists, Buffalo Tops Women’s Basketball Saturday

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team dropped its second home contest of the season to Buffalo 82-69, on Saturday, Dec. 1 inside the Detrick Gymnasium in New Britain, CT. The team recorded a season-high 20 assists and sophomore Emma McCamus scored a career-high 17 points.

Central (1-5, 0-0 NEC) shot 26-61 (42.6%) for the game and Buffalo (5-1, 0-0 MAC) shot 27-65 (41.5%) from the floor.

Senior Kiana Patterson got the Blue Devils on the board knocking down a three pointer over a Bulls defender. Central got good looks at the rim by working the ball against the Buffalo zone. A block by Ashley Berube led to a transition pull-up jumper by Patterson at the 7:02 mark. Berube later completed a three-point play after receiving a high-low pass by sophomore Ashley Forker. Central led 21-18 at the end of the first quarter.

The Bulls responded going on an 8-0 run to start the second quarter before McCamus hit a three in the corner at 7:12 to stop the run. Despite Central shooting 41.7 percent from beyond the arc in the first half, the Bulls forced 11 turnovers leading to 10 fast break points giving Buffalo a nine-point lead at half.

The Blue Devils trailed 35-26 at halftime and shot 9-25 (36.0%) from the field including 5-12 (41.7%) from behind the arc in the first 20 minutes of action, while Buffalo shot 14-36 (38.9%) from the floor.

Out of the halftime gate, both teams traded baskets as Buffalo held a slight 11-9 edge in points at the third quarter media timeout. Senior Sydney Hines knocked down a three-pointer from the corner and Berube scored a layup off an up and under move in the paint to try and keep the game within reach for Central.

With a 17-point lead with 10 minutes left to play, Buffalo did not lay off the gas pedal pushing the score to the game's largest margin of 20 points with 6:09 to go. With under six minutes to play, Central applied full court pressure resulting in Patterson scoring 6 points and finding McCamus for an easy layup to cut the score 66-57 with 5:22 to play.

A steal by McCamus led to a fast break layup for freshman Forever Toppin to cut the lead to seven with 3:06 left, but the Bulls responded with back to back makes behind the arc. The Bulls would go on to win 82-69.

Kiana Patterson led the Blue Devils with 22 points five rebounds and six assists. Berube finished the game with double figures for Central scoring 11 points.

The Bulls had four players score in double figures and were led by Cierra Dillard who scored 27 points shooting 9-10 (90%) from the foul line.

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team will next travel to Albany, NY on Wednesday, Dec. 5, to face the Albany Great Danes, at 7 p.m.