Central Opens Conference Action Against Sacred Heart Saturday

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team opens 2018-19 Northeast Conference play on Saturday, Jan. 5 at 1 p.m. in Fairfield, CT against Sacred Heart on #NECNEWYEAR. CCSU went 3-7 to lead up to conference play and is back on the road after hosting cross-town rival Hartford. Sacred Heart has gone 4-7 in non-conference action. Following the conclusion of the women's game, CCSU men's basketball plays Sacred Heart at 3:30 p.m. All Northeast Conference games are available to watch live online at NECFrontRow.com.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Central Connecticut (3-7, 0-0 NEC) at Sacred Heart (4-7, 0-0 NEC)

Saturday | Jan. 5 | 1 PM

Pitt Center | Fairfield, CT 

Video | Live Stats | @KizerBlueDevil (In-game tweets)

GAME NOTES | CCSU 

Last Time Out • Central closed its non-conference season with a 54-52 loss to Hartford. Ashley Berube recorded her first career double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds after shooting 5-7 (.714) from the floor and 3-4 (.750) from the foul line. Central led by one point with 1:17 left to play, but the Hawks capitalized on back to back CCSU turnovers. Ella Awobajo and Lindsey Abed combined for 44 points to help the Hawks improve to a 6-7 record.

NEC Openers • CCSU is 8-13 all-time in NEC opening games.

The Pioneers • Coming off a 71-43 loss to Kentucky to end its non-conference campaign, the Pioneers enter Saturday's contest winning one out of its last five games. Led by Katherine Haines in scoring (13.3 ppg) and rebounds (9), the team is second in the conference in free throw percentage at 71.0 percent.

Berube Breaks Through • Sophomore Ashley Berube is coming off of her first career double-double against Hartford. She has started all 10 games for Central and ranks in the top 10 for multiple NEC statistics. Berube is currently second in block shots (1.6), sixth in field goal percentage (.448), and seventh in rebounding (6.1). She has scored in double figures five games so far this season. 

Series History • Saturday's NEC opener marks the 51st all-time meeting between CCSU and the Pioneers. Sacred Heart holds a 31-19 advantage in the series. Last season, Central won both contests over SHU.

Up Next • Northeast Conference #NECNEWYEAR action will continue Monday, Jan. 7 when Central welcomes Wagner to Detrick Gymnasium for a 7 p.m. tip-off.