Team Effort Lifts Women’s Basketball Past Saint Francis U 73-62 on Saturday

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team upset the Red Flash of Saint Francis U on Saturday in New Britain, CT. The team scored a season-high 73 points led by senior Kiana Patterson who scored 27-points recording her fifth 20+ point game this season.

Patterson shot 9-22 (.409) from the floor including 5-11 (.454) from three-point land and a perfect 4-4 from the foul line. She also had five assists and a career-high seven rebounds.

Central (4-11, 1-4 NEC) got off to an aggressive start with back to back steals by sophomore Ashley Forker and Patterson. Senior Andi Lydon opened scoring for the Blue Devils with an up and under move on the block. Saint Francis (6-11, 3-2 NEC) made just one of its first nine shots with a three by Jess Kovatch. Patterson answered with a three pointer of her own giving Central a 9-3 lead at the first media timeout. The teams traded baskets the rest of the quarter and were tied 17-17 at the end of the first.

The Red Flash went on an 8-2 run as Central connected on just 1-of-7 shots to open the second quarter. With 5:46 left in the first half, Saint Francis led 25-19. Both teams shot well from behind the arc for the rest of the half. Kovatch hit back to back threes in the quarter for SFU. Sophomore Emma McCamus and Lydon connected from deep and Patterson sank a fading three-pointer through the net just as time expired at half.

CCSU entered the locker room down 35-34 shooting 34.3 percent (12-35) and 28.6 percent (4-14) from deep. The Blue Devils shot a perfect 6-for-6 from the foul line. Lydon and Patterson combined for 21 of the 34 first half points for Central. Saint Francis shot 34.4 percent (11-32) and 45.4 percent (8-10) from behind the arc.

Out of the halftime gate, Patterson scored five straight points for the Blue Devils, but the Red Flash responded with an 8-0 run of its own giving SFU a 43-39 with 6:53 remaining in the third.

Layups by junior Bruna Vila Artigues and sophomore Ashely Berube gave Central a 45-43 lead with under five minutes to play in the quarter.

Central outscored Saint Francis 23-16 in the third with McCamus completing an old fashion three-point play followed by an elbow jumper giving CCSU a 57-51 lead with 10 minutes left to go.

The Blue Devils were on an 11-0 run holding the Red Flash scoreless for 5:07 before Kovatch hit her fifth three-pointer of the game cutting the lead 60-52. Central took its largest lead of the game with 6:25 to play when Patterson knocked down a wide open three putting the Blue Devils up 65-55.

Patterson drilled another three-pointer to beat the shot clock extending the lead 70-59 with 1:09 left. The Red Flash went on one last run, but it wasn't enough as the Blue Devils pulled out the win 73-62.

Central shot 44.3 percent (27-61) on the game including 38.1 percent (8-21) from three-point range. The team shot an impressive 84.6 percent (11-13) from the charity stripe. Saint Francis shot 35.6 percent (21-59) for the game and 34.8 percent (8-23) from deep.

Lydon recorded 12 points and five rebounds shooting 3-5 (.600) from the floor. Berube also hit double-digits with 11 points and three rebounds. Artigues ended with a career-high nine points along with two rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Kovatch finished the game with 24 points for SFU along with two steals. Aunesha Williams was the only other player to score double-figures for the Red Flash with 10 points, five rebounds, and four steals.

Women's basketball hosts Robert Morris on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at 1 p.m. in Detrick Gymnasium followed by the men's team who tip off at 3:30 p.m.