Women's Basketball Tops UMass Lowell, 64-53, In Home Opener

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team topped UMass Lowell, 64-53, on Tuesday night in the Blue Devils' 2015-16 Home Opener inside Detrick Gymnasium. The win evens Central's record at 1-1 on the season and the River Hawks fall to 0-2 with the setback.

Seniors Kayla Miller and TeJahne Malone both recorded double-doubles in the victory for CCSU. Miller and Malone matched each other with 13 points and 10 rebounds on the night.

The first half proved to be a back-and-forth affair with the Blue Devils holding a slight 12-10 lead at the end of the first quarter and then a 25-24 edge heading into the intermission. The game was tied five different times and also changed hands three times over the course of the first two periods.

UMass Lowell led 6-5 after a jumper by Nicole Hayner at the 7:11 mark in the first quarter, but then would not lead again for the rest of the first half.

The Blue Devils answered and would slowly build their lead to as big as six, 25-19, after junior Aleah Epps hit a three pointer with 3:11 left on the clock before halftime. Epps had the hot hand in the first half, sinking nine points on two-of-two shooting from beyond the arc and converting three-of-four attempts from the free throw line.

The River Hawks would go on a quick 5-0 spurt, however, to close out the half and pull within one, 25-24, heading into the locker rooms.

UMass Lowell came out of the intermission and used an 11-4 run over the first four minutes of the third quarter to take their largest lead of the game, 35-29.

Central would answer though with a quick 7-0 run of their own to retake the lead 36-35 with 2:57 left in the third quarter. Play went back-and-forth for the remainder of the quarter until freshman Kiana Patterson drained a key three pointer with four seconds left to swing the lead and momentum back in favor of the Blue Devils, putting them up 45-43 heading into the final stanza.

CCSU used a 9-0 run in the middle of the fourth quarter to pull away from UML as they never trailed in the final period. The Blue Devils then connected on three-of-three free throw attempts in the final minute of play to ice the game and account for the final result, 64-53.

The Blue Devils shot 45.8% (22-48) from the field in the game, including 53.8% (14-26) in the second half. They shot 4-of-9 (44.4%) from distance and hit 16-of-32 (50.0%) of the their free throw attempts.

Epps led all scorers with a game-high 15 points. She finished five-of-11 from the floor, including two-of-three from deep and hit three-of-four from the line. She also added a pair of assists and a steal.

Miller and Malone accounted for the first double-doubles of the season for the Blue Devils. They each finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Sophomore Caitland Considine had a nice night in her first collegiate start for the Blue Devils. She poured in seven points and finished with five assists and a steal in the win.

Central held UMass Lowell to 36.4% (20-55) shooting on the night, including 23.1% (3-13) from long range. The River Hawks also connected on 50.0% of their free throw attempts, hitting 10-of-20. Kayla Gibbs and Hayner led the way for UML with 12 points a piece.

The Blue Devils will next travel to Patriot League member Army for their next contest on Thursday at 5 p.m.