Women's Basketball Halted on Monday Night at Merrimack in NEC Quarterfinal
The Central Connecticut women's basketball team fell 76-51 at Lawler Arena on Monday.
Samora Watson led the Blue Devils with 14 points, three rebounds, a block and two steals. Belle Lanpher added 12 points, she was 5-for-12 from the floor with two three-pointers.
Merrimack guard Kaylee Thomas led all scorers with 28 points, she shot 50.0% from the field and made 6-out-of-11 three-pointers.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU 76, Merrimack 51
Records: CCSU (9-21) (7-9 NEC), Merrimack (11-18) (8-8 NEC)
Location: Lawler Arena | North Andover, MA
KEY MOMENTS
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Samora Watson buried her first shot of the contest to tie the game at two after Merrimack scored its first basket on the other end. Meghan Kenefick hit a three-pointer to give Central an early 7-5 lead with 6:20 left in the first quarter. Merrimack capped an 18-10 run with two free throws from Madison Roman and took an 18-10 lead with 1:50 left in the first stanza. Samora Watson canned a jump shot to cut the deficit to six (18-12) with 1:34 left to play in the quarter. Kaylee Thomas hit a three-ball for Merrimack with 0:59 seconds left, and The Warriors led 21-12 after one-quarter of play.
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Belle Lanpher scored Centrals first points of the second quarter with 8:10 left to go in the frame trailing 26-14. Samora Watson hit a jumper with 3:29 left in the first half, but Merrimack's potent offense had CCSU trailing 37-19 with 3:29 left to go in the second quarter. Merrimack took their largest lead of the game with 1:34 left to play after Rose Caso made a layup. A free throw and three-point basket from Amaya Williams with 0:27 seconds left cut The Warrior lead to 42-23 with 0:27 seconds left in the half. CCSU would go into the locker room trailing 42-23.
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Alonna Sellers made her presence known in the third quarter with the first four CCSU points cutting Merrimack's lead to 44-27 with 8:59 left. Samora Watson hit a jumper with 5:07 left in the third trailing The Warriors 51-29. Belle Lanpher knocked down a jumper with 3:05 left to go and Merrimack led 56-36. Kaylee Thomas drained her sixth three-pointer of the game with 0:52 seconds left and Merrimack took a commanding 61-37 lead. Ally Sentance scored with 0:12 seconds off a steal and CCSU trailed 61-39 entering the final stanza.
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Meghan Kenefick started the Blue Devils' fourth quarter with a jumper at the top of the key six seconds in trailing 61-41. Belle Lanpher hit a three with 5:28 left to go and The Blue Devils trailed 65-44. Meghan Kenefick's jumper with 1:39 left brought the score to 73-50 and Central was unable to come back.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
495 – Samora Watson scored 495 points this year good for 6th all-time after Gabriella Guegbelet (2005).
.878 - Belle Lanpher shot .878 from the free throw line good for 4th all-time for Central.
NOTES
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The Blue Devils are 0-1 in the playoffs vs Merrimack and 4-7 all-time.
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Coach Way Veney was unable to secure her first playoff victory as head coach of the Blue Devils
