Hawks Outlast Women's Basketball, Friday
Hartford defeated Central 54-52 on Friday night.
The Central Connecticut women's basketball team fell to the Hartford Hawks 54-52 on Friday night inside Detrick Gymnasium. Sophomore Ashley Berube recorded her first double-double of the season with 13 points, 12 rebounds, one steal, and two blocks.
CCSU falls to 3-7, while Hartford advances to 6-7 on the year.
Senior Kiana Patterson opened scoring for the Blue Devils knocking down a three-pointer. Despite having seven turnovers in the first quarter, Central out rebounded the Hawks 14-6 and trailed by just three points (13-10) after 10 minutes of action.
To start the second, sophomore Ashley Forker grabbed a rebound and found junior Ashley Chin for a breakaway layup. On the next possession Forker attacked the rim and passed the ball to classmate Emma McCamus who knocked down a three to tie the game 15-15. Central shot a perfect 7-7 (100.0%) from the charity stipe, but Hartford shot 4-8 (50.0%) from three-point range in the quarter giving the Hawks a 31-30 halftime lead.
At the half, CCSU shot 10-23 (43.5%) including 2-8 (25.0%) from three-point range. Hartford shot 12-33 (36.4%) going 6-15 (40.0%) from deep. The Blue Devils outrebounded the Hawks 22-13 and were 8-9 (88.9%) from the foul line. Ella Awobajo had 18 of the first half points for the Hawks, matching her season-high.
Out of the halftime break, the game continued to stay close with both teams at an even 7-7 scoring run. After five scoreless minutes, McCamus knocked down two free throws with two minutes remaining in the third to give Central its first lead of the game since the 9:00 mark in the first quarter. The teams ended the quarter with 11 points each, with Hartford having a slight 42-41 advantage with 10 minutes to play.
Central led by one point with three minutes to play. With less than a minute Awobajo made back to back layups giving the Hawks a 52-49 lead with 35.9 seconds remaining. Hartford would go onto win the game 54-49.
Patterson was the only other player with double figures for Central scoring 14 points. Sophomore Tiffany Slicklein was one basket away from a double-double with eight points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Forker finished with a career-high five assists along with two points and six rebounds.
Awobajo and Lindsey Abed combined for 44 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and six steals for the Hawks. Awobajo finished with a career-high 27 points.
CCSU opens conference play on Saturday, Jan. 5 at Sacred Heart and returns home on Monday, Jan. 7 against Wagner.