Lucia Noin Leads CCSU With 20 Points In Win Over Bridgeport

A dominant defensive effort led the host Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils to their first win of the season on Friday afternoon, a 66-25 triumph over the visiting University of Bridgeport Purple Knights.  CCSU is now 1-7 on the season; while Bridgeport slips to 0-7 overall.  Central limited UB to only six total points in the second half and forced the visitors into a total of 31 turnovers which CCSU turned into 33 points.  The 25 points scored by Bridgeport are the lowest point total registered by a Central opponent since 29 by St. Francis Brooklyn during the 2012-13 season.  Junior Lucia Noin led all scorers in the game with a career-high 20 points for the Blue Devils, as she hit 10-of-15 field goals.  Noin, who also grabbed six rebounds, was joined in double figures by senior Alonna Sellers with 18 points, one off her career high, and freshman Dagny Slomack, who netted a career-best 16 points in Friday's win.  CCSU's Selina Monestime led all rebounders in the contest with a career-high 12 boards.

GAME INFORMATION |BOX SCORE

Score:   CCSU 66, Bridgeport 25
Records: CCSU (1-7, 0-0 NEC), Bridgeport (0-7, 0-0 CACC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium |New Britain, Conn.

KEY MOMENTS

• After Alonna Sellers scored the first four points of the game for CCSU, the Blue Devils took their first lead of the day at 6-4 on a hoop by Selina Monestime at the 8:09 mark of the first quarter.
• The game was tied 10-10 at the media timeout of the day with 3:48 remaining in the opening stanza with Sellers chipping in six of Central's 10 points.
• Central led the contest, 14-12, after the opening 10 minutes of play with Alonna Sellers leading the way with eight points going a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor.
• A pair of baskets by Lucia Noin to open the second quarter forced UB into a timeout just 1:08 into the frame with the Blue Devils leading 18-12.
• The run would continue for the hosts as a three-point shot by Dagney Slomack upped the Blue Devils' lead to 11, 25-14, with 6:08 to go in the first half, as Bridgeport called another timeout.
• CCSU outscored UB, 20-7, in the second quarter to take a 34-19 halftime lead.  Junior Lucia Noin led the host in the first two quarters with a CCSU career-best 16 points, and she also added five rebounds, three steals and two assists in the first two quarters.  Alonna Sellers added nine points for the Blue Devils in quarters one and two.  Noin was 8-of-10 from the field, and Sellers hit 4-of-6 field goals.  Shakira Hester led Bridgeport with six points and four rebounds.
• CCSU forced 13 UB turnovers in the first half scoring 12 points off those turnovers.  Central also had 26 points in the first half in the paint.
• Central ran off the first 13 points of the third quarter to extend its lead to 47-19 with 4:08 to play in the stanza.
• The Blue Devils outscored the Purple Knights, 19-2, in the third quarter to lead 53-21 heading into the fourth quarter.
• The stifling defense continued in the fourth quarter, as Central outscored UB, 13-4, to make Friday's final score, 66-25.

NUMBER TO KNOW

31–A season-high turnovers forced by the Blue Devils on Friday

NOTES

• Lucia Noin's 20 points versus the Purple Knights set a career high.
• Dagny Slomack, who scored a career-best 16 points against Bridgeport, has reached double figures in four straight games and a total six times so far this year.
• Junior Alonna Sellers grabbed eight rebounds to go along with her 18 points in Friday's win.
• Friday's 66 points are a season high for CCSU, and the 25 points allowed are the fewest the Blue Devils have allowed since 29 by St. Francis Brooklyn during the 2012-13 season.
• Central scored 46 points in the paint on Friday and had a total of 23 fast break points.
• The 18 assists by the Blue Devils on 27 made baskets are a season-high.
• CCSU won the battle of the boards against UB by a 44-37 margin.

UP NEXT

• The Blue Devils head to the State of Ohio for a pair of post-Turkey Day contests taking on the University of Dayton on Sunday, December 1 at 1:00 p.m.; followed by a game at the University of Cincinnati on Tuesday, December 3 at 11:00 a.m.  Central returns to the friendly confines of Detrick Gymnasium on Saturday, December 7 when Morgan State comes to town for a 1:00 p.m. tilt.