Blue Devils Fall in a Hard Fought Battle with Sacred Heart

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team went back and forth with The Pioneers but ultimately fell 58-to-53 on Friday night at The Pitt Center.

The Blue Devils held The Pioneers to 55 points - their 2nd lowest-scoring tally against a conference opponent this season (LeMoyne, 60-56). Samora Watson led CCSU with 16 points as Ny'Ceara Pryor scored a game-high 27 points for SHU and made crucial baskets down the stretch that led to their victory. 

Belle Lanpher was 5-for-9 from the floor and added 11 points. Alonna Sellers contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds in her third straight start for Central Connecticut. 

GAME INFORMATION

Score: CCSU 53, Sacred Heart 58

Records: CCSU (6-17) (4-6 NEC), SHU (15-9) (9-1 NEC)

Location: William H. Pitt Center | Fairfield, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• Ny'Ceara Pryor cashed in the first two baskets for Sacred Heart but an early triple from Ally Sentance put Central on the board at the 8:18 mark of the first quarter. The Blue Devils were down 10-5, but layups from Belle Lanpher and Meghan Kenefick cut the SHU lead to 10-9 with 3:17 left in the first quarter. The Pioneers answered with a three-pointer and a last-second bucket that gave Sacred Heart a 15-11 lead at the break.
• Samora Watson made a jumper 0:43 seconds into the second quarter and the Blue Devils trailed 17-13. The sophomore hit another corner jumper with 6:24 left in the quarter that cut Sacred Hearts lead to 23-19. A turnover led to a basket for The Pioneers as Ny'Ceara Pryor began to heat up. The reigning NEC Player of the Year Pryor scored her 11th point off a jumper with 4:33 left in the second to give The Pioneers a 29-21 lead. Ally Sentance hit a big three with 1:32 left in the first half to cut the SHU lead to 29-26. Alonna Sellers collected her sixth rebound and scored to cut the Sacred Heart lead to 29-28 at the half. 
• On the Blue Devils' first play of the half Samora Watson gave Central their first lead of the game (30-29) with a wide-open floater on a dish from Sellers. Alonna Sellers later backed down her defender and scored to give Central a 36-32 advantage with 5:42 left in the quarter. Two baskets from Ny'Ceara Pryor and a three-pointer from Amelia Wood helped the Pioneers take a 39-36 lead with 4:21 left in the third. Both teams were without a field goal for the rest of the quarter. After a free throw from each team, Central Connecticut trailed Sacred Heart 40-37 going into the final period. 
• Meghan Kenefick started the Blue Devils in the fourth quarter with a free throw line jumper. A layup from Belle Lanpher cut the Pioneer lead to 42-41 with 8:23 left in the 4th quarter. CCSU and Sacred Heart traded three-pointers one from Pryor and one from Lanpher. Olivia Tucker hit a jumper on the next possession to give Sacred a 49-46 lead with 6:30 left in the final stanza. Lanpher quickly responded on Central's next possession with a layup to cut the deficit to one (49-48). With 3:09 left to go down 52-51 Samora Watson's free throw went halfway down and Ny'Ceara Pryor responded with a jumper on the other end to give Sacred Heart a 53-51 lead with 2:45 left in the period. Pryor scored again, but Samora Watson responded with a layup that kept Central within three (56-53) with 1:13 left to go. Both teams were without a basket for the remainder of the contest. Amaya Williams had a good look at a three with 0:11 seconds left, but it was just off the mark as Central was forced to put The Pioneers on the line. Sacred Heart made two free throws to close the game with a 58-53 victory. 

NUMBERS TO KNOW 

4 – The Blue Devils did not attempt their first free throws until the 3:50 mark of the third quarter and they shot a season-low four free throws as a team. 

NOTES

• Sacred Heart leads the all-time series, 31-13. The Pioneers have won the last two matchups. 
• The Blue Devils shot 40.0 percent from the field with Belle Lanpher and Alonna Sellers going 5-for-9 from the floor. Labpher added 11 points as Sellers notched her first career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. 
• Samora Watson went 7-for-18 from the floor had a team-high 16 points and shot the only free throws for her team. 

UP NEXT

Central Connecticut is back home Thursday, Feb 15 vs Le Moyne as we celebrate 'Mardi Gras' and hand out free CCSU beads to all fans!