Women's Basketball Welcomes Saint Francis U Saturday at 1 PM

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team (5-12, 2-4 NEC) welcomes Saint Francis U (8-10, 5-1 NEC) to New Britain, CT for a Northeast Conference showdown on Saturday afternoon. The Blue Devils will host the Red Flash in game two of their five game home stand with a 1 p.m. tip-off inside Detrick Gymnasium in the front end of a NEC doubleheader with the CCSU and SFU men's basketball teams to follow. All of the action for both games can be seen live, for free, on NECFrontRow.com.

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Today • The Central Connecticut women's basketball team (5-12, 2-4 NEC) looks to rebound after dropping a tough, 61-57, double overtime loss at home to Sacred Heart on Monday night as they host Saint Francis U (8-10, 5-1 NEC) on Saturday in game two of a five game home stand for the Blue Devils. Tip-off between CCSU and SFU is scheduled for 1 p.m. inside Detrick Gymnasium in the front end of a NEC basketball double header with the Central and Saint Francis men's teams to follow. Both games can be seen live, for free, on NECFrontRow.com.

Previously For Both Teams • The Blue Devils are coming off a heartbreaking, 61-57, double overtime loss at home to instate and NEC foe Sacred Heart last Monday night. Central led by 10 with just over five minutes to play in the fourth quarter, but Sacred Heart came storming back and closed the game on a 10-0 run to tie the game and force overtime. Central was held scoreless for the final 5:16 of regulation. At the end of the first overtime period it was Central's turn for the dramatic as junior Aleah Epps hit a three pointer with 0.4 left on the clock to force a second overtime, but the Blue Devils were outscored 8-4 in the second overtime period to suffer the setback. SFU most recently played Fairleigh Dickinson at home topping the Knights 87-67. The Red Flash hit 17 three's in the game, tying a team record, to help power them over FDU.

Series History (9-25) • Today's game marks the 35th meeting all-time between the two teams at the Division I level. Saint Francis U holds a 25-9 advantage in the series with the two teams splitting a pair of meeting last season, each winning on their home court. SFU got the best of CCSU in Loretto, PA winning, 61-48, on Feb. 16 before CCSU got revenge at home, 72-59, on Feb. 23.

Piper vs. SFU • Head Coach Beryl Piper is 5-12 (.294) all-time against SFU entering today's game in her ninth season at the helm of the Blue Devils. She holds a 4-3 record against the Red Flash inside Detrick Gymnasium.
Scouting Saint Francis • The Red Flash are 8-10 overall, 5-1 in the NEC and sport a 2-7 mark on the road this season. They average 78.1 ppg as a team and are led by freshman Jessica Kovatch who averages 23.2 ppg and is the NEC's second leading scorer. Kovatch does a little bit of everything, but is a sharpshooter from beyond the arc hitting for 40.9% (65-159) from distance. She also leads the team with 43 steals. The Blue Devils will also have to try and control Brielle Ward and Halee Adams who dominate the boards for SFU. Ward averages 7.1 rpg and Adams pulls down 4.4 rpg.

Tale of Two Halves • On Monday night against Sacred Heart the Blue Devils exploded in the first half for 34 points on 52.0% (13-25) shooting from the field. The shooting percentage was the best first half mark for the Blue Devils all season and 34 points tied the most points in the first half all year. However, in the second half the Blue Devils scored just 14 points on 17.9% (5-28) shooting. Both marks were season-low second half totals.

Homeward Bound • Tonight's game marks the second of five straight home games for the Blue Devils. Entering this home stretch CCSU had only played five home games all season and will now double that total over the next two weeks.

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 8.8 ppg and 3.0 apg over the first six NEC contests. She has been electric from beyond the arc making 13 triples so far in conference action in 33 attempts (39.4%)

Miller Steals the Show • Senior Kayla Miller recorded a career-high seven steals last Monday night against Sacred Heart. It marks just the second 5+ steal game this season by a Blue Devil (Malone at FDU - 5). Prior to Malone's five steal game the last player to reach this feat was Jessica Babe who had 6 vs. Bryant 2/8/14.

More Miller • She also posted her second double-double of the season in the setback to SHU. Miller finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds to log her first double-double since she had 13 points and 10 boards vs. UMass Lowell (11/22/15).

Malone's Career • With 12 rebounds and three steals against Wagner, Malone surpassed 500 career rebounds and 100 career steals. She now has 507 career boards and 103 career steals as a Blue Devil.

Up Next For CCSU • The Blue Devils will return to action next as they host Robert Morris on Monday night in Detrick Gym. Tip-off is sheduled for 7 p.m.