Women's Basketball Downed By New Hampshire Sunday, 64-50

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team dropped their fourth-straight game, falling 64-50 to the New Hampshire Wildcats on Sunday afternoon in New Britain, CT. The Blue Devils slip to 1-5 overall on the season with the loss while UNH improves to 5-1 with the victory. Sophomores Camden Musgrave and Emma Stroyan led the way for CCSU with 12 points a piece.

The Blue Devils jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead after back-to-back fast break layups to open the game, one by Musgrave and the other by junior Aleah Epps. Central would go on to lead for the entire first quarter, holding a 9-7 edge at the first intermission.

New Hampshire would respond to the early deficit though and opened the second quarter with a 6-2 run to take their first lead of the game, 13-11, with 6:27 remaining before halftime. The Wildcats went on to extend their run to 12-2 to open the quarter and built an eight point lead, 19-11, halfway through the second period.

CCSU would answer though and stopped the run after Stroyan grabbed an offensive rebound and banked in a layup. Central then cut the UNH lead to just four, 19-15, and it appeared that would be the score heading into the locker rooms, but the Wildcats' Elizabeth Belanger hit a runner as time expired to put New Hampshire up 21-15 at the break.

Both teams struggled shooting in the first half. CCSU hit on 21.7% (5-23) of their shot attempts while UNH was slightly better connecting for 37.5% (9-24) from the field. Musgrave and Stroyan both had four points to lead the Blue Devils at the break. Stephanie Spoto led all scorers with eight first half points.

The Wildcats carried the momentum over to the start of the second half and opened the third quarter outscoring the Blue Devils 7-2 to take an 11 point lead, 28-17. CCSU would try and cut into the lead over the course of the next few minutes of the game, but UNH kept responding and led by 11 again, 41-30, with just under two minutes left in the quarter. Central would make a little push at the end of the quarter after a corner three by freshman Kiana Patterson and layup by Musgrave, but trailed by seven, 42-35, at the end of the third.

Central opened the final stanza controlling the pace and used a quick 5-2 spurt to start the period to pull within four, 44-40. That would be as close as the Blue Devils would come however as the Wildcats answered and rattled off an 11-2 run to take control of the game and led by 13, 55-42, with just under four minutes to play in the game. UNH would build its lead to as big as 16 and would eventually prevail 64-50.

Central shot 37.8% (17-45) in the game, including 26.3% (5-19) from beyond the arc. They also hit 78.6% (11-14) of their free throw attempts. Musgrave and Stroyan both had 12 points for the Blue Devils. Musgrave was 5-of-12 from the floor, including two-of-seven from three. Stroyan connected on five-of-seven attempts from the floor and was 2-of-2 from the line.

New Hampshire shot 44.7% (21-47) from the field, including 16.7% (2-12) from distance. The Wildcats were also 83.3% (20-24) from the charity strip in the contest. Belanger had a game-high 17 point for UNH. She was joined in double-figures by Spoto (15), Corrine Coia (14) and Kristen Anderson (12).

New Hampshire controlled the glass and held a 35-22 advantage in rebounds in the game. They had three players with six rebounds a piece. Senior TeJahne Malone led the way for the Blue Devils pulling down a team-high five boards.

The CCSU women's basketball team will return to action next with a road trip to intrastate rival Hartford on Wednesday, Nov. 2. The Blue Devils and Hawks are scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m. inside Chase Arena in West Hartford, CT.