Women's Basketball Drop First Game With LIU

Central Connecticut women's basketball surrendered a second half lead and dropped the first of two games against LIU. The Blue Devils were outscored 46-31 in the second half in the loss. Central drops to 4-9 overall and 4-9 in the NEC. The Sharks snap a five game losing streak and improve to 4-11 overall and in NEC play.

Dejah Jenkins topped her career high, scoring 18 points on 6-15 shooting.Belle Lanpher and Danielle Delano each added 8 points. Forever Toppin scored in double figures for the fifth time in the last six games.

The Blue Devils recorded a season low one block as a team and allowed 30 points in the paint. Central also shot under 40% as a team for the tenth time this season and are 2-8 when doing so.

Kennedy Taylor and Ryan Weise led the way for LIU, each scoring 12 points. Mia Perkins added 11 points and 6 rebounds. Brandy Thomas, LIU's leading scorer, contributed 8 points. She is now just 6 points away from the illustrious 1,000 point club.

GAME INFORMATION

Score: CCSU 63, LIU 73

Records: CCSU (4-9, 4-9 NEC), LIU (4-11, 4-11 NEC)

Location: Detrick Gym | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS 

• Central scored the game's first 5 points on buckets from Jenkins, Forker, and Toppin. The Blue Devils surrendered its lead after a basket from Mia Perkins at the 5:56 mark.

• The Blue Devils fought back and with a steal and an acrobatic layup by Danielle Delano, taking a 17-10 lead with 3:05 left in the first. The Blue Devils ended the quarter with a 4 point lead.

• The Sharks were able to tie the game at 25 after a three-pointer by Mia Perkins three minutes into the second quarter. However, LIU scored just 2 points for the remainder of the half.

• The score was locked at 29-27 for over three minutes until Danielle Delano knocked down a corner three to extend Central's lead to 5. The Blue Devils led 32-27 at the half.

• LIU opened the half on a 7-0 run and took its first lead of the game since it was 8-7 in the first quarter.

• Central quickly responded with a 10-1 run, taking a 42-35 lead and forcing a LIU timeout. Forever Toppin scored 5 of the 10 points during the run. The game was tied heading into the final quarter.

• The Blue Devils were outscored 27-17 in the fourth. Eight different players scored in the fourth quarter for LIU, while Central shot just 5-17 as a team. LIU secured the win shooting 11-12 from the foul line.

NUMBER TO KNOW

9 - Central led by 9 at the 4:43 mark in the third quarter but couldn't hang on, losing the game by 10.

NOTES 

• Ashley Forker brought down a season high 11 rebounds, marking just the third time a Blue Devil has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in a game this season. 

• Center Carly Reynolds scored 3 points on 1-2 shooting after missing both games over the weekend.

• The Blue Devils led for 25 minutes and 33 seconds, which is over 63% of the game.

• Belle Lanpher scored 8 points all coming from the free throw line where she did not miss. Lanpher is now shooting 35-41 from the charity stripe (85.4%).

• The Sharks contributed 38 points from the bench, compared to just 19 for CCSU.

• Central had just 4 second chance points, which is ten less than LIU's 14.

Up Next:

CCSU and LIU will run it back tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 pm.

No fans will be in attendance, but the game will stream for free on Necfrontrow.com.