Women's Basketball Edged by Sharks, 63-61

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team fell short to the LIU Sharks 63-61 on Monday night in Brooklyn, NY. Juniors Ashley Forker and Ashley Berube each had 16 points and eight rebounds for Central. 

Trailing by six with 3:27 to play, Forker went 2-4 from the foul line to put Central within four. The Blue Devils held the Sharks from scoring a field goal in the final minutes, but went 2-7 on the offensive end to close the game. Forker hit a three to put the Blue Devils down two with 31.5 seconds left, but the Sharks were able to hold on to take the win.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Score: Central Connecticut 61, LIU 63
Records: CCSU (1-15, 0-5 NEC), LIU (3-12, 2-2 NEC)
Location: Steinberg Wellness Center - Brooklyn, NY

KEY MOMENTS

• The Blue Devils opened the game shooting 4-6 from the floor. Ashley Berube was a perfect 3-3 on the block to start the game. Central held a slight 12-11 lead at the first media timeout.
• Forever Toppin had a steal and found Tiffany Slicklein running in transition to finish at the rim.
• The teams continued to trade baskets for the rest of the opening quarter and the Blue Devils held a two-point lead (19-17) and shot .500 percent (8-16) at the end of the first.
• Over a 4:30 span, the Sharks went on a 10-2 run to take a 25-21 lead with 6:55 to play in the second.
• The Sharks went over five minutes without scoring as Central went on a 9-0 run with four straight points coming from Jamey Napoleon giving the Blue Devils its largest lead of the game (34-27). 
• The Sharks took a six-point lead, 51-44, after going on a 9-2 run with 3:03 to play in the third.
• Toppin drained a jumper right before the buzzer to put the Blue Devils down six heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
• LIU pushed the lead to 10 midway through the fourth as Central went without a basket for 5:02.

NUMBER TO KNOW

28 - Central outscored LIU 28-24 off points in the paint.

NOTES

• Ashley Berube and Ashley Forker each finished two rebounds shy of posting double-doubles (16 pts, 8 rebs).
• Forever Toppin matched her career-high in assists (4) and steals (3) in the first half.
• Jamey Napoleon sank two free throws tonight, putting her at 15-16 (.934 percent) on the season.

 UP NEXT

The Blue Devils continue on the road at Mount St. Mary's on January 18 and Fairleigh Dickinson on January 20. Both games are scheduled for 1 p.m. and are double-headers with the Central men's basketball team.