Women's Basketball Hosts Instate NEC Rival Sacred Heart Monday Night

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team (5-11, 2-3 NEC) returns to Detrick Gymnasium Monday night to take on instate and NEC rival Sacred Heart (6-10, 4-1 NEC). It marks the first of a five game homestand for the Blue Devils as they look to keep things rolling after back-to-back NEC road wins this past Monday and Saturday. Tip-off between the Blue Devils and Pioneers is scheduled for 7 p.m. in New Britain and all of the action can be seen live, for free, on NECFrontRow.com.

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Tonight • The Central Connecticut women's basketball team (5-11, 2-3 NEC) looks to keep things rolling, eyeing its third straight win, as they host intrastate rival and NEC foe Sacred Heart (6-10, 4-1 NEC) inside Detrick Gym. It also marks the first of a five game homestand for CCSU over the next two weeks. Tip-off between the Blue Devils and Pioneers is scheduled for 7 p.m. and all of the action can be seen live, for free, on NECFrontRow.com.

Previously For Both Teams • The Blue Devils are coming off a 62-52 victory on the road over Wagner on Saturday. Central trailed 37-34 heading into the fourth quarter, but used a 20-7 run to close out the final five mintes of the game and outscore the Seahawks 28-15 in the final period to secure the win. Freshman Kiana Patterson had a career-high 15 points in the victory, including nine in the fourth quarter. The Pioneers last played at St. Francis Brooklyn, topping the Terriers 68-51 on Saturday. SHU had four scorers in double-figures led by Kelcey Castro who finished with 19. Hannah Kimmel was right behind her with 17 and scored her 1,000th career point as a Pioneer in the win.

Series History (10-25) • Tonight's game marks the 36th meeting all-time between the two teams at the Division I level. Sacred Heart holds a 25-10 advantage in the series, but the Blue Devils have won the last three meetings including a pair last season. Central topped SHU on the road, 62-49, on Jan. 5 before defeating the Pioneers again, 70-58, at home on Senior Day Feb. 21.

Piper vs. Sacred Heart • Head Coach Beryl Piper is 8-10 (.444) all-time against Sacred Heart entering tonight's game in her ninth season at the helm of the Blue Devils. She holds a 3-5 record against the Pioneers inside Detrick Gym, but she has guided Central to victories in the last three straight meetings in New Britain.

Scouting Sacred Heart • The Pioneers are 6-10 overall, 4-1 in the NEC and sport a 2-6 mark on the road this season. They average 62.9 ppg as a team and are led by Hannah Kimmel who averages 16.3 ppg. Kimmel does a little bit of everything, but likes to shoot the three connecting for 34.8% (31-89) from long range. She is a 38.9% (93-239) overall shooter from the field. The Blue Devils will also have to keep Kimmel off the boards as she is the Pioneers leading rebounder grabbing 8.1 rpg. They will also have to keep an eye on Alissa Tarsi who averages 12.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg.

Homeward Bound • The Blue Devils begin a five game homestand with tonight's matchup against Sacred Heart. Entering tonight CCSU has only played five games at home all season, but will double that total over the course of the next two weeks.

Piper's 150th NEC Game • Tonight's game marks the 150th Northeast Conference game for head coach Beryl Piper. She is 72-77 in NEC action over her first eight plus seasons at CCSU.

Rising Freshman • Freshman Kiana Patterson has been a real bright spot for CCSU so far this season especially on the offensive end in conference play. Since taking over as a starter in the Blue Devils first NEC game, the rookie point guard has averaged 10.2 ppg and 3.2 apg over the first five NEC contests. She has been electric from beyond the arc making a team-high 13 triples so far in conference action.

Double Trouble • Senior TeJahne Malone recorded her second straight and third double-double of the season in Saturday's 62-52 victory at Wagner. After sinking a career-high 25 points with 12 rebounds against FDU last Monday she followed with 10 points and 12 more rebounds at Wagner on Saturday.

More Malone • With 12 rebounds and three steals on Saturday against Wagner, Malone surpassed 500 career rebounds and 100 career steals. She now has 503 career boards and 101 career steals as a Blue Devil.

Up Next For CCSU • The Blue Devils will return to action next as they host Saint Francis U next Saturday afternoon in Detrick Gym. Tip-off is sheduled for 1 p.m. in a NEC double-header with the CCSU and SFU men's teams to follow at 4 p.m.