November 28, 2023
Women's Basketball Set to Play Illinois Wednesday Night
The Central Connecticut women's basketball team will face Big Ten opponent Illinois for the first time in their 52-year history.
Wednesday night's game will be the first matchup between the Fighting Illini and the Blue Devils. The game will be streamed on BIG TEN+ (subscription required).
Game Notes | BIG TEN + | Livestats | State Farm Center
OPENING NOTES
- Wednesday night's game will be the first matchup between the Fighting Illini and the Blue Devils. They will face the first of two Big Ten opponents in their non-conference schedule (at Penn State 12/9). The squad will travel to New Hampshire on Dec 02 before their third home game of the season vs Albany on Dec 6th.
- The Blue Devils scrappy defense has forced a league-best 20.83 turnovers per game good enough to rank 47th in the country in that category.
- Belle Lanpher is currently the league's leading scorer (15.8ppg) and is coming off a season-high 24 points vs Fairfield on Sunday afternoon. She ranks sixth in the country in minutes per game and has taken nine charges in the last three games for CCSU.
WITH A CCSU WIN ...
- CCSU would beat a Big Ten opponent for the first time in Blue Devil basketball history.
- The Blue Devils would advance to 2-5 on the season and capture their first road victory.
WHAT TO KNOW
- Central comes in averaging 54.0ppg (fourth in the NEC) and gives up 68.8ppg landing them at 2nd in the league in scoring margin (-14.8). The team is tied for third in the league in scoring offense (54.0ppg), and second in free throw pct. (.731) and first opponent 3-point FG pct. (.280).
- The Blue Devils are first in the league in turnover margin (+5.17), they average 20.83 forced turnovers a game (1st in NEC; 47th in NCAA). They are one of only two NEC teams with a positive turnover margin.
- Belle Lanpher scored 24 points 22 being in the second half. 24 is a game-high in the NEC for any player this season. Lanpher also leads the team in steals (14) and assists (2.7pg). She is fourth in the league shooting 80 percent from the charity stripe. Lanpher was also named an NEC prime performer for the second straight week.
- The team will be without Samora Watson due to illness Wednesday night. The sophomore guard is second on the team in scoring (12.8ppg) and has started in every game.
HISTORY VS THE BIG TEN
Series Record: 0-10
First Meeting: L, 77-42 (11/20/04) at Michigan State
Last Meeting: L, 56-45 (12/14/21) at Rutgers
Closest Margin: L, 62-53 12/20/09 at Rutgers
Last Big Ten Win: L, 56-45 (12/14/21) at Rutgers
Current Streak: L10
