Women's Basketball Wins First Game of the Season, Tops Vermont in Overtime on Friday Night
Blue Devils will be in action again on Wednesday at UMass at 2 p.m.
The Central Connecticut women's basketball team posted its first victory of the 2016-17 season with a 78-76 home victory in overtime over Vermont on Friday night in Detrick Gym. The Blue Devils, now 1-2 on the season, were playing at home for the second time this season.
Vermont falls to 1-2 overall on the year with the loss. It marked the fourth win in the last five meetings with the Catamounts for the Blue Devils.
The Blue Devils played 10 players in the game and all 10 had at least five points and a rebound. Seven had an assist and eight had at least one steal in the balanced attack for CCSU.
The Blue Devils led 41-33 at the half as they put together their most productive offensive half of the season. After scoring just five points in the fourth quarter in the loss to Hartford, the Blue Devils put up 20 points in the first quarter and 21 more in the second to take the right point lead at the half.
Central shot 16-of-33 from the field and 6-of-12 from three in the first half, as nine different players scored in the half. Central also held a 20-16 lead on the boards.
Vermont opened the third quarter and quickly cut the lead to two, 41-39, but the Blue Devils responded with an 12-0 run to build the lead to 53-39 with 4:38 left in the quarter. Sophomore Kiana Patterson hit a three during the run, her third of the game, to fuel the spurt for the Blue Devils. Freshman Taylor Goode's four-point play made the lead 14.
The Catamounts cut the lead to 56-51 at the end of the third quarter with a 12-3 run over the final 3:48 of the third quarter. They tied the game 58-58 with under five minutes to play in the fourth quarter.
Four straight points from senior Giocelis Reynoso gave the Blue Devils a 62-58 lead at the 4:16 mark. Vermont answered again, and took a 68-66 with under a minute to play in the quarter. Central sophomore Andi Lydon took a pass from senior Aleah Epps and tied the game 68-68 with 10 seconds to play.
With the game tied 72-72 in overtime, the Vermont bench was given a technical foul following a foul call on the CCSU offensive end. Central would hit 3-of-4 free-throws and build the lead to 75-72 with 2:16 to play. A jumper from sophomore Sydney Hines made it 77-72.
Down 77-76, the Catamounts had a chance to win on the final possession but Reynoso stole the ball and then hit 1-of-2 free-throws to seal the win.
The Blue Devils will return to action on the road on Wednesday at UMass at 2 p.m.
