Berube Records Third Double-Double, RMU Outlasts Central 64-57 Monday

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team dropped a 64-57 decision on CCSU Community Day against Robert Morris. Sophomore Ashley Berube recorded her third double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Both teams opened the game shooting even from the floor. The Colonials started on a 5-0 run and the Blue Devils responded with back to back triples from seniors Andi Lydon and Kiana Patterson. At the first media timeout, Robert Morris had a slight 13-12 lead as Central connected on 5-13 (38.5 percent) and 2-6 (33.3) from deep. Patterson had back to back assists finding Lydon and sophomore Ashley Berube on the block for easy scores. At the end of the first RMU led 15-14.

Central went scoreless for over three minutes before sophomore Ashley Forker found Berube just inside the top of the key for a jump shot. On the next possession, sophomore Tiffany Slicklein knocked down the third three pointer for Central to tie the game 19-19 with 6:35 remaining in the first half. The Colonials went on a 11-4 run the rest of the second, holding CCSU to just nine points in the quarter. Lydon found freshman Carly Reynolds on a back cut to the basket, and sophomore Emma McCamus kissed the ball off the glass to cut the lead 30-23 at halftime.

After the first 20 minutes of action, seven players were on the board for the Blue Devils. Central shot 10-26 (38.5 percent) and 3-10 (30.0 percent) from three, recording nine assists on 10 field goals. Robert Morris shot 10-31 (32.3 percent) and an impressive 5-10 (50.0 percent) from deep. 

Central continued scoring to start the second half on a 9-0 run with a corner three by junior Bruna Vila Artigues. Patterson hit her third three of the game to cut the lead 34-31, but Robert Morris attacked the rim for easy score to push the lead back to seven with just under five minutes to play in the third. Berube passed out of a double-team to Slicklein cutting through the paint for her second basket of the game. 

The Blue Devils held RMU scoreless for 2:46 seconds before Laura Carrasco hit a three pointer to end Central's 6-0 run. The teams tied the quarter 14-14 and CCSU trailed 44-37 at the end of the third. 

Honoka Ikematsu hit her fifth three-pointer of the day to give Robert Morris a 48-38 lead with 8:27 left to play. Central continued to be aggressive with baskets by Lydon and Forker. The Blue Devils cut into the double-digit deficit with back to back threes by Patterson and McCamus to cut the lead 56-50 with 4:11 on the clock. Forker made a diving save out of bounds to keep the ball alive to Patterson who knocked down a floater on the baseline to shorten the lead 58-52 with 3:10 to play, but it wasn't enough to overcome Robert Morris.

Patterson finished the game with 15 points on 5-14 shooting and 3-7 from three-point range along with four assists. The Troy, NY native currently has 1,224 points putting her at eighth in the record books. McCamus recorded 10 points, three rebounds, and two assists. 

Ikematsu and Nneka Ezeigbo finished with 19 and 12 points respectively for the Colonials.

Women's basketball travels to Bryant on Saturday, Jan. 26 for a 1 p.m. tip off against the Bulldogs. The Blue Devils are back at home Monday, Jan. 28 against LIU Brooklyn at 7 p.m.