Blue Devils Edged by Saint Francis U, 72-68

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team fell to Saint Francis U 72-68 on Monday night in Loretto, PA. Junior Ashley Forker scored five of her nine points in the final 22.5 seconds of the game, including a three that put CCSU down 69-68 with 12 seconds left, but the Red Flash went 7-8 from the foul line in the last 30 seconds to secure the win.

Junior Tiffany Slicklein finished with a season-high 14 points and sophomore Forever Toppin was the only other player to hit double-digits with a career-high 11 points for Central.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Central Connecticut 68, Saint Francis U 72
Records: CCSU (2-20, 1-10 NEC), SFU (10-12, 8-3 NEC)
Location: DeGol Arena – Loretto, PA

KEY MOMENTS

• The Blue Devils opened the game with back-to-back threes and forced two turnovers in the first three minutes of action.
• Central went on a 15-2 run to take a 21-10 lead with 1:42 left to play in the first. CCSU shot an impressive 5-9 (.556) from behind the arc in the opening 10 minutes. Coming off the bench, Tiffany Slicklein went 2-2 from three.
• The Blue Devils continued its streak on offensive opening the second quarter a perfect 5-5 from the floor, including two shots from deep.
• Central went scoreless for the last 4:55 of the second quarter allowing Saint Francis U to go on a 10-0 run and put the game within two at halftime. After the first 20 minutes of action, Central shot 11-26 (.423) including 7-12 (.583) from behind the arc.
• Momentum shifted out of the halftime break as the Red Flash went on an 11-2 run over a 5:10 span to take a five-point lead. A three by Slicklein put Central within two with 2:30 left in the third.
• The Red Flash sank its first five shots of the final quarter and led 61-51 with 4:54 left in the game.
• Ashley Forker scored five points of her nine points in the final 22.5 seconds putting the Blue Devils within one, but SFU shot 7-8 from the foul line to secure the win.

 NOTES

• Central shot 50 percent from the foul line, sinking nine threes. This is the fourth game this season the Blue Devils made six or more threes in a game. 
• Slicklein led the Blue Devils with a season-high 14 points in 15 minutes. She shot 5-6 from the floor including a perfect 3-3 from behind the arc.
• Toppin was the only other player to score double-digits, finishing with a career-high 11 points.

 NUMBER TO KNOW

9 - Central went 9-18 (.500) from behind the arc.

UP NEXT

Central Connecticut closes its three-game road series at Bryant on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. in Smithfield, RI.