Women's Basketball Defeats Merrimack, 78-71, on Saturday Afternoon
The Central Connecticut women's basketball team defeated The Merrimack Warriors, 78-71, at the Detrick Gym Saturday afternoon.
The Blue Devils were up by as much as 18 points in their victory vs Merrimack at the Detrick gym on Saturday afternoon.
Watson led all scorers with 37 points, while Belle Lanpher added 16 points. Amaya Williams finished with points, respectively. CCSU shot 26-of-58 (.448) overall and was 7-of-22 (.318) from three-point range. Central, the league's top free throw shooting team was 19-of-22 (.864) at the foul line.
Kaylee Thomas had a team-high 17 points. Merrimack shot 27-of-66 (.409) overall and 8-of-21 (.381) from three-point range. The Warriors made 9-of-15 (.600) at the foul line.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU 78, Merrimack 71
Records: CCSU (5-16) (4-5 NEC), Merrimack (7-15) (4-5 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gym| New Britain, CT
KEY MOMENTS
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Jayme Decesare knocked down Merrimack's third triple of the opening quarter to cap a 10-2 Warrior run four minutes into the first stanza. Belle Lanpher stopped the bleeding with a layup at the 5:10 mark. On the next possession, Lanpher took a charge and defense led to offense as she hit a three-ball of her own to cut the Merrimack's lead to 10-7 with 4:32 in the first. Samora Watson put an exclamation on her ninth point of the quarter when she knocked down a three-pointer with 0:23 seconds left in the first that gave Central a 23-16 lead. Thalia Shepard would knock down a jumper for the Warriors and the first quarter ended with Central leading 23-18.
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Samora Watson scored the first two baskets of the second period to give her team a 27-18 lead at the 8:42 mark. Watson made the extra pass in transition to Amaya Williams who drained a three-pointer that extended CCSU's lead to 34-25 with 5:31 left in the quarter. Central Connecticut took their largest lead of the half (44-31) with 1:15 left to go after Amaya Williams knocked down Central's fifth three of the game. Rose Caso made a layup for Merrimack with 0:23 seconds left as Central went into the locker room with a 46-35 lead.
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Samora Watson picked up where she left off with two quick baskets that gave Central a 50-35 lead early in the third quarter. With 3:54 left in the period, Watson converted an old-fashioned three to give her team their biggest lead of the game (54-36). At the 2:37 mark of the third quarter, Kaylee Thomas nailed a three-pointer and The Warriors followed that with free throws by Thalia Shepard that cut Central's lead to 61-51 with 2:16 left in the third. Amaya Williams hit a floater with 0:25 seconds left that ended the third with Central leading 63-to-51.
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Meghan Kenefick started the Blue Devils fourth quarter with a jumper at the foul line. Watson knocked down a three with 8:36 left to go for her 35th point as Central took a 68-55 lead. Merrimack chipped away at the Blue Devil lead and a layup by Paloma Garcia with 1:29 left to go cut Central's lead to 74-66. Belle Lanpher would seal the game with four free throws down the stretch and Central took home the 78-71 victory at the Detrick Gym.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
6 – Samora Watson has scored 25 or more points in 6 games this season with 38 being the top mark vs New Hampshire on 12/2/23.
4 – The Blue Devils surpass their NEC win total from a year ago with four wins and seven games left on the Conference schedule.
78 – The Blue Devils notched their largest point total since Feb 4th of last year with a season-high 78 points.
7 – CCSU knocked down a season-high seven three-pointers vs the best team at defending the three in the league.
NOTES
Merrimack leads the all-time series, 4-6. The Blue Devils have won one out of their last two matchups.
CCSU outrebounded Merrimack 20-15 in the first half with a 9-2 advantage on second-chance points. The Blue Devils had 11 fast break points to Merrimack's four and Central's bench outscored The Warriors 19-11.
Samora Watson went 13-for-24 from the field and added seven rebounds and four assists.
UP NEXT
The Blue Devils will travel to Fairfield on Friday night to take on #1 Sacred Heart on February 9th at 7:00 PM.