
Four Reach Double Figures But CCSU Women Fall At Chicago State
Blue Devils Return Home To Host LeMoyne On Saturday At 1 PM
Four Blue Devils reached double-digit scoring on Thursday night, but it was not enough for the Central Connecticut State women's basketball team, as CCSU closed out its three-game road trip with an 84-77 Northeast Conference loss against the host Chicago State University Cougars. With the loss, Central is now 4-15 overall and an even 3-3 in conference play. Chicago State is now 2-19 overall and 2-4 in the NEC. With the game tied at 19-19 after the first quarter, the Cougars opened the second period on a 7-0 run to take a 26-19 lead and never trailed for the remainder of the contest. CCSU graduate student guard Belle Lanpher had another outstanding outing in Chicago, as she led her team with 29 points; falling just one point shy of her third consecutive game with at least 30 points. Lanpher also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out six assists against the Cougars. She was joined in double figures by senior Amaya Williams with 14 points, classmate Meghan Kenefick with 11 points and freshman Dagny Slomack with 10 points. Kenefick finished with a double-double on the night grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. Aiyanna Culver led three Chicago State players in double figures with a career and game-high 33 points. Teammate Josie Hill had a double-double for the Cougars with 14 points and 11 boards.
GAME INFORMATION |BOX SCORE
Score: Chicago State 84, CCSU 77
Records: CCSU (4-15, 3-3 NEC), Chicago State (2-19, 2-4 NEC)
Location: Jones Convocation Center|Chicago, Ill.
KEY MOMENTS
- After Chicago State scored the first basket of the game just 15 seconds into play, Belle Lanpher tied things up for the Blue Devils with a pair of free throws at the 9:34 mark
- Thursday's game was tied 19-19 after the first 10 minutes of action, but the host Cougars would open the second quarter on a 7-0 to take a 26-19 lead which they never relinquished. Chicago State outscored CCSU, 26-13, in the second frame to take a 45-32 advantage at halftime. Belle Lanpher led Central with 19 points at the break.
- The Blue Devils would try and chip away at the Cougars lead in the third quarter, as they cut their deficit to just six points, 51-45, at the 5:03 mark of the quarter on an Amaya Williams hoop, but Chicago State would move the lead back to 10 points at 64-54 heading into the final 10 minutes.
- Central got off to a slow start in the fourth quarter, as the Blue Devils were held scoreless for the first 3:40 of the final stanza, and the closest they would come to the hosts was a five-point deficit at 82-77 after a Kayla Henry putback with just 20 seconds to play in the contest.
- CCSU outscored Chicago State, 45-39, in the second half to make the final score 84-77 in favor of the host Cougars.
NUMBER TO KNOW
2–Thursday night's game was the second game of the 2024-25 season played by the CCSU women in the Central Time Zone. Along with the game in the Windy City, Central opened this season at the University of Minnesota on November 4. 2024.
NOTES
- Belle Lanpher is now averaging 23.0 points per game after her 29-point performance at Chicago State. She has amassed a total of 1268 career points which puts her only 23 points away from moving into sixth place in CSSU's all-time women's basketball scoring list. Belle has reached double figures in all nine games she has played this season and a total of 11 straight outings dating back to last season.
- Thursday's double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds is Meghan Kenefick's second double-double of the 2024-25 season.
- Dagny Slomack has now reached double figures in nine games so far this season; while Amaya Williams has accomplished that same feat six times during the 2024-25 campaign.
- Central won the battle of the boards against the Cougars by a margin of 14 rebounds, 45-31.
- Thursday's 77 points are the most points scored in a road game this season by the Blue Devils.
- Thursday night also marked the first ever meeting in women's basketball between Central Connecticut State and Chicago State. The two teams will meet again in the Nutmeg State later this season on Thursday, February 20.
UP NEXT
- The Blue Devils return to New Britain in just two days when they open a three-game homestand on Saturday, January 25 versus the LeMoyne College Dolphins. Game time in Detrick Gymnasium is set for 1:00 p.m., and on Saturday, CCSU will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day.