Women's Hoops Tips Off 2024-25 Schedule At Minnesota On Monday Night
Trip To The Land Of 10,000 Lakes Begins 13-Game Non-Conference Schedule for The Blue Devils
The Central Connecticut women's basketball team begins the 2024-25 season with a trip to the Land of 10,000 Lakes on Monday night to face the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. The game is set for an 8:00 p.m. tipoff in the Eastern Time Zone (7:00 p.m. CT) and can be viewed on the B1G+ Network.
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MINNESOTA PREVIEW
The Blue Devils and Golden Gophers have never met before on the women's basketball hardwood.
OPENING NOTES…
• Central Connecticut begins the 2024-25 campaign at Minnesota coming off a 2023-24 season that saw the team post 9-21 overall record and a 7-9 Northeast Conference mark. Last season, CCSU advanced to the quarterfinals of the NEC Championship.
• Head coach Way Veney begins her second season as the Blue Devils' head coach. She is assisted by Danielle Spiliotis and Erica Covile.
• After Monday's season opener, the CCSU women's basketball team will open its home slate on Thursday night, November 7 when Manhattan comes to Detrick Gymnasium for a 7:00 p.m. contest.
• Minnesota, under the direction of head coach Dawn Plitzuweit, went 20-16 overall last season and 5-13 in Big Ten play. The Golden Gophers advanced to the finals of last season's WNIT before falling to St. Louis, 69-50.
• Central took on two Big Ten opponents last season traveling to Illinois on November 29, 20023 (L , 89-50) and Penn State on December 20, 2023 (L, 101-73).
WITH A VICTORY ON MONDAY ...
• CCSU would win its season-opener for the first time since the 2020-21 season when the Blue Devils topped St. Francis (N.Y.), 87-72.
LOOSE ENDS...
• CCSU's number two ranking in the Preseason Northeast Conference Coaches' Poll is the highest ranking in program history.
• Four of the team's top five scorers return for the Blue Devils in 2024-25 in Belle Lanpher (12.6 ppg.), Meghan Kenefick (8.3 ppg.), Alonna Sellers (7.0 ppg.) and Amaya Williams (6.7 ppg.).
• Lanpher became the 18th Blue Devil in women's basketball history to surpass the 1,000 career points scored plateau last year. She enters 2024-25 with 1,061 total points.
• Kenefick led CCSU on the glass last season grabbing an average of 5.7 boards per game.
• This year's team captians for the Blue Devils are Belle Lanpher, Meghan Kenefick and Amaya Williams.
• Seven newcomers are slated to suit up for the CSSU women this season along with six student-athletes that saw action last year.
• Six states (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia) and two foreign countries (Spain and Greece) are represented on this year's Central Connecticut women's basketball roster.
• The Blue Devils will play a competitive 13-game, non-conference schedule this season that will feature opponents from eight different conferences, plus an in-state Division II opponent in the University of Bridgeport. Along with facing Minnesota from the Big-10 in Monday's season opener, Central will take on Cincinnati from the Big 12, Boston College from the Atlantic Coast Conference, UMass and Dayton from the A-10, Dartmouth of the Ivy League, Colgate of the Patriot League, Bryant from the America East and Morgan State from the MEAC plus three opponents from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in Manhattan, Fairfield and Siena.
• CCSU will open this season's 16-game Northeast Conference schedule at home on Thursday, January 2, 2025 when Saint Francis (Pa.) comes to New Britain for a 4:00 p.m. tilt. The Blue Devils open NEC play with a three-game homestand as Mercyhurst and LIU will follow the Red Flash into Detrick Gymnasium.
NOTABLES
• 2024-25 NEC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. FDU (unanimous)
2. CENTRAL CONNECTICUT
3. Le Moyne
4. Stonehill
5. Saint Francis U
6. Wagner
7. LIU
8t. Chicago St.
8t. Mercyhurst
2024-25 Preseason All-NEC Women's Basketball Team
Teneisia Brown, FDU, Montego Bay, Jamaica/Mount Vernon/St. Andrew's (Merrimack)
Abby Conklin, FDU, Irvington, NY/Irvington
Belle Lanpher, CCSU, Princeton, MA/Wachusett Regional
Taleah Washington, Wagner, District Heights, MD/Forestville & Rock Creek (Old Dominion)
Staci Williams, FDU, Holly Springs, SC/Holly Springs
