Women's Basketball NEC Quarterfinal Date Set at Saint Francis U on Sunday
#6 Central Connecticut travels to #3 Saint Francis U. for a NEC Tournament Quarterfinal rematch of last year on Sunday, March 5.
The sixth-seeded Central Connecticut women's basketball team will travel to Loretto, PA for the second consecutive year for the Northeast Conference Tournament quarterfinal game against the third-seeded Saint Francis Univeristy Red Flash. In last year's quarterfinal matchup, SFU prevailed 83-77 to advance and conclude Central Connecticut's 2015-16 campaign.
2017 NEC TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
#6 CCSU (10-19, 9-9 NEC) at #3 SFU (16-13, 13-5 NEC) | SUNDAY, MARCH 5 | 2:00 P.M. | DEGOL ARENA | LORETTO, PA
NEC FRONT ROW | LIVE STATS | @KizerBlueDevil
Previously For Both Teams • In a game that saw nine lead changes and ties, CCSU's late fourth quarter surge fell just short on the road at #4 seeded Bryant, 70-64 on Monday, Feb. 27. The Red Flash won, 83-69, over the #2 Sacred Heart Pioneers most recently at home.
Series History (11-28) • The Red Flash hold a 28-to-11 advantage in the overall series with the Blue Devils. SFU gathered two wins, by an averaging point differential of +4.0, during the 2016-17 regular season. Last time inside Degol Arena, CCSU fell 87-81, and just two weeks ago in New Britain, 72-70. Last year, the two squads also met for the third time in the NEC Quarterfinals on March 6, where SFU prevailed, 83-77, to advance and conclude Central's 2015-16 season.
Flashback • In their two prior meetings this season, the Blue Devils and Red Flash have produced very similar offensive numbers. CCSU is averaging 40.1% from the floor, and SFU is making 37.1%. The two squads have combined for 37 three-pointers, with Central making 30.0%, and Saint Francis converting 31.4% of its attempts. The Blue Devils have dominated the Flash on the boards by an average +20.0 rebounds per game, but have been forced into -14.0 more turnovers that SFU this year.
Lydon Lights It Up • Sophomore Andi Lydon drained a 29-point career high performance at Saint Francis U where she shot an impressive 75.0% (9-12) from the floor on Jan. 21. Lydon missed the second game with SFU due to an injury, and will look to pick back up right where she left off in Loretto on Sunday. During conference play, Lydon ranks second in three-point shooting percentage (44.3%), making 27-of-61.
Containing Kovatch • Kovatch's career day in SFU's first meeting with CCSU in Degol Arena, (45 pts, 9 three-pointers) will be at the forefront of the Blue Devils' minds on Sunday. Kovatch notched 24 points in their last meeting, and sits as the NEC's top scoring threat with 21.1 ppg against conference opponents.
Last Time Out • The Blue Devils shot 24-for-59 (40.7%) from the field, led by rookie Cebria Outlow with 17 points and seven boards. After falling behind nine points in the fourth, Kiana Patterson and Aleah Epps combined for 15 points, but it wasn't enough to out-score Bryant in the end.
Aleah Administers • An All-NEC Second Team Selection, senior point guard, Aleah Epps stands in third place in the Northeast Conference in assists, with an average of 4.31. per game. Epps leads the team with 11.4 ppg. and has started in all but one of the Blue Devils games this year.
