Women’s Basketball Drops Overtime Thriller
CCSU and SFU combined for 203 points in a wild overtime contest that featured 102 total free throws.
The Central Connecticut women's basketball team dropped a wild overtime contest to Saint Francis U on Monday night. The Blue Devils (6-6, 0-2 NEC) and Red Flash (3-10, 1-1 NEC) were tied 85-85 at the end of regulation with the Flash eventually pulling away for a 106-97 victory.
The game featured 74 total fouls and 102 combined free throws with Saint Francis connecting on 40-of-62 free throw attempts and the Blue Devils hitting 27-of-40.
Eight players score in double-digits, including four that reached 20 points. CCSU senior Lauren Arbogast led the Blue Devils with 24 points. Senior Jaleen Thomas (14) and sophomore Raven Makins (18) also reached double-digits on the night. The 18 points for Makins are a new career-high, which shattered her previous high of six points that she set early this season.
The 97 points that the Blue Devils scored are the second highest total for a game in the program's 28-year Division I era. They are also the most scored in the seven seasons under head coach Beryl Piper.
The Blue Devils trailed the Red Flash early in the first half, but battled back to take the lead behind 10 points from Makins. Makins drove the lane to give CCSU a 29-27 lead with 7:19 left in the first half. She followed with a layup on CCSU's next possession and then added six more points over the next six minutes to help the Blue Devils take a 44-41 lead into the half.
The Red Flash held an 84-81 lead with 54 seconds left to play following a free throw by Erin Blaine. Senior Jessica Babe cut the deficit to two points on a free throw with 29 seconds remaining and Saint Francis missed a pair of free throws on its ensuing possession. On CCSU's next possession Babe found Arbogast at the top of the key for a go-ahead three pointer with 20 seconds remaining. However, Babe was whistled for a foul on the next Red Flash possession and Saint Francis' Ali Williams connected on one-of-two free throws to send the game to overtime tied 85-85.
Sophomore Nicole Ferguson knocked down a three-pointer to give the Blue Devils an 88-85 lead on the first possession of overtime, but the Red Flash grabbed a 91-89 lead 80 seconds later and slowly pulled away for the 106-97 victory.
Ali Williams led all scorers with 27 points. Her teammates Bridget Murphy, 24 points, and Alexa Hayward, 20 points, also had strong scoring games.
The Blue Devils have only scored more than 97 points once in their 28 Division I seasons. In November 1986 the Blue Devils defeated Utica 101-82.
The Blue Devils will play a pair of Northeast Conference games on the road next weekend. First at Wagner on Saturday and then at LIU Brooklyn on Monday night.