Women's Basketball Falls in Late Thriller

Central Connecticut women's basketball was narrowly defeated Sunday, losing its home game against the New Jersey Institute of Technology 67-63. Ashley Berube and Dejah Jenkins combined for 41 points in the effort.

GAME INFORMATION

FINAL SCORE CCSU 63 NJIT 67

RECORDS CCSU (1-3, 0-0 NEC) NJIT (3-2, 0-0 American East)

LOCATION Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• The tandem of Berube and Jenkins made the first quarter difficult for the opposing Highlanders. In fact, the two combined for 12 of the team's 14 first quarter points. Jenkins made some tightly contested corner threes and Berube worked her magic in the paint, pivoting and hooking for the easy basket in the paint.
• The CCSU defense swarmed the Highlanders for most of the first, causing a number of traveling violations.
• The Highlanders opened up the second quarter with a three that tied things at 14, but a quick jumper from Jenkins gave the Blue Devils the lead right back.
• NJIT busted out a 9-3 lead midway through the second to take a 24-21 lead over CCSU. Forever Toppin quickly caught Jenkins in transition on the other end as she splashed another deep shot to tie it back up at 24. The Highlanders scored once more, so Jenkins did too, making for a 26-26 tie heading into the halftime break.
• NJIT began to pull away with a lead in the third quarter, but threes from Toppin, Berube and Claire Sutherland-Case kept the Blue Devils in this one. They went into the final quarter of play down 46-50.
• The Highlanders had two dagger threes to start the fourth quarter, less than a minute of game time seperated them.
• After Toppin and Berube knocked down layups, Berube caught an offensive rebound and put it right back up to bring CCSU to within four. Berube finished with eight points in the fourth, her highest scoring quarter.
• The Blue Devils clawed back into this game thanks to another Jenkins three and a bucket from Eden Nibbelink that made it a one possession game. The Blue Devils had a few good looks at the three ball in the final minute, but were just off.

NOTES

• Jenkins' 18 points ties her career high.
• For the second game in a row, Berube was one rebound shy of a double-double.
• Berube's 23 points is a new season high. Her career high is 26.

UP NEXT...

The Blue Devils head back on the road this week for a game against UMass Lowell on Wednesday.