Watson and Lanpher Named To NEC All-Conference Teams
Samora Watson: First Team; Belle Lanpher: Second Team
Central Connecticut sophomore Samora Watson was named First Team All-NEC and senior guard Belle Lanpher was named Second Team All-Conference.
Samora Watson's regular season campaign was one to remember for the Blue Devil sophomore. In 28 games played Watson scored in double figures 21 times along with eight 20+ point performances. She tallied 466 points good for 6th all-time in a single season at CCSU. Watson has the top three scoring performances this season in the NEC. She dropped 38 points at New Hampshire (12/02/23), 37 vs Merrimack (02/03/24), and 35 at FDU (01/25/24). She averaged 17.2 points per game (2nd in NEC), 5.6 rebounds (8th in NEC), and shot .405 from the floor good for 5th overall in the conference. Her 38 points at New Hampshire stands as the 6th best-scoring performance by a Blue Devil. She is just one of two players in the nation to have three or more 35+ point games to her name this season, joining Iowa senior Caitlin Clark.
Belle Lanpher averaged 12.6 points per game (366 total points) for her best scoring campaign as a Blue Devil. She scored her 1,000th point vs Le Moyne on February 15th and ranks 18th all-time with 1,049 career points. She ranks 6th in the NEC in assists (2.83) and is the leader in free throw percentage (.878). Her free throw percentage is the 4th highest single-season free throw percentage as a Blue Devil.
Lanpher has a career free throw percentage of .838 (228-272) and ranks second all-time behind Kim Kopecko who shot .844 (130-154), from 1999-03.
The Blue Devils more than doubled its win total in conference play from last season (3-13) with a 7-9 mark. Central Connecticut will be making its 15th NEC Tournament appearance under first-year head coach Way Veney.
