Williams, Bruen Tally Career-Highs In Saturday Tilt

The Central Connecticut women's basketball teams fourth quarter rally came up short, falling 57-52 to visiting Northeast Conference foe Wagner College Saturday afternoon at Detrick Gymnasium. The Blue Devils had three career-best efforts, two in scoring and one in rebounding.

The Blue Devils are back in action on January 26^th when they travel to Merrimack for a 7:00 pm start.

GAME INFORMATION

FINAL SCORE: Wagner 57, CCSU 52

RECORDS: CCSU (5-12; 2-4 NEC), Wagner (11-6; 6-0)

LOCATION: William H. Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• CCSU jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, 1:44 into the game, on baskets from Emma Bruen and Meghan Kenefick
• Bruen would make the lead 6-2 at the 6:48 mark of the first quarter with a driving layup
• Wagner scored six points in a 1:23 stretch to take an 8-6 advantage midway in the quarter
• Amaya Williams ended the Blue Devils scoring drought with a pair of free throws at the 3:02 mark of the opening quarter, making it 10-8 Wagner
• The Seahawks would push its advantage to 17-10, before an Alli Napoli free throw with 38 seconds left in the quarter
• Wagner scored four points in the final four seconds of the quarter to take a 21-11 advantage
• Napoli scored seven straight CCSU points, starting with a three 53 seconds into the second and capped by a pair of free throws at the 6:54 mark, making the deficit 27-18
• Williams hit a pair of free throws and then a long two with 2:48 to play in the first-half to bring CCSU within 29-22
• Kem Nwabudu scooped in a basket for Wagner with 2:26 to play, ending a 4:00 scoring drought
• Bruen free throws with 58 seconds left and a three from Williams with 19 seconds left brought CCSU within five, 33-28
• Zhaneia Thybulle scored with a second left in the period to send Wagner to the break up by seven, 35-28
• The teams traded baskets during the third quarter, with the Seahawks pushing the advantage to 13, 45-32, at the 6:35 mark, which would be their last field goal until the 1:11 mark of the period
• A 12-foot jumper from Kenefick brought CCSU back within single digits, 45-36, at 3:52 of the third
• Wagner scored the final three points of the third quarter to take a 48-36 lead into the final period
• CCSU scored the first six points of the final stanza, capped by a three from Kenefick to close within six points, 48-42, with 7:19 to play
• Wagner final broke through with a pair of Alex Cowan free throws at the 5:52 mark
• Williams knocked down a triple to bring CCSU within 50-45 with 4:39 to play
• Wagner scored the next four points, to extend the lead back to 54-45, before another Williams three with 3:33 remaining made it 54-48
• The Blue Devils were able to get within four points, 56-52, on a Dejah Jenkins triple with 27 seconds remaining but could get no closer

NUMBERS TO KNOW

• Amaya Williams scored a career-high 16 points, shooting 3-3 from behind the arc

NOTES

• Bruen reached double figures for the first time in her collegiate career, shooting 4-8 and finishing with 10 points
• Williams was 4-6 from the floor and 5-6 at the free throw line
• For the second time in as many games Kenefick had a career-high in rebounds, collecting a game-best 15 rebounds, the second 15 rebound game by a Blue Devil this season (Rohkohl, 12/3/22)
• The Blue Devils had 14 offensive rebounds and finished with a 45-24 advantage on the glass
• Three Wagner players finished in double figures, with 16 from Nwabudu
• CCSU held Wagner 0-6 from behind the arc for the game