Women's Hoops Falls In Tough Battle With NEC Leader FDU

The Central Connecticut State women's basketball team went toe-to-toe with Northeast Conference leader the Knights of FDU in Detrick Gymnasium on Thursday night, as the two teams were tied 29-29 at the half, before the visitors pulled away over the final two periods to post a 61-52 win.  Thursday's tilt was a see-saw affair with a total of seven ties and 10 lead changes.  The loss snaps a two-game winning streak for the Blue Devils, who are now 6-16 overall and 5-4 in conference play.  FDU, winners of 11 games in a row, are now 18-3 overall and an unblemished 8-0 in the NEC.  For the seventh consecutive game, graduate student Belle Lanpher led CCSU in scoring with 14 points.  She also pulled down a team-best eight rebounds and dished off four assists.  She was joined in double figures by Selina Monestime, who finished with 13 points and blocked four shots versus the Knights.  Amaya Williams fell just shy of giving the Blue Devils three double-digit scorers, as she finished with nine points.  Abaigeal Babore led a balanced FDU scoring attack with 16 points, and teammate Teneisia Brown finished with a double-double of 12 points and 15 rebounds.

GAME INFORMATION |BOX SCORE

Score:  FDU 61, CCSU 52
Records: CCSU (6-16, 5-4 NEC), FDU (18-3, 8-0 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium |New Britain, Conn.

KEY MOMENTS

• After a FDU scored the first six points of the game, Selina Montestime got the Blue Devils on the board when she knocked down her fourth three-point shot of the season with 5:15 to play in the opening stanza off an assist from Dagny Slomack.
• Jessica Farrell gave CCSU their first lead of the game at the 2:09 mark of the quarter to give Central a slim 7-6 advantage.
• The two teams played to an 11-11 draw over the first 10 minutes of action.  Selina Monrestime led Central with five points.  Eight of FDU's 11 points in the first quarter came in the paint.
• The Blue Devils scored the first five points of the second quarter to take a 16-11 lead within the first minute of play in the stanza.
• The lead would grow to eight points at 21-13 with 6:33 to play before halftime on a traditional three-point from Selina Monestime; started by a beautiful feed from Belle Lanpher.
• The visitors outscored the hosts, 16-8, over the remainder of the second quarter to send the two teams into the break tied, 29-29.  Belle Lanpher tied things up for CCSU with a layup at the second quarter buzzer.  Selina Monestime led the Blue Devils with 11 points at the break, and she was followed by Lanpher with seven points.  Belle led Central at the break with four rebounds.   The opening 20 minutes also featured five ties and eight lead changes.
• The back-and-forth play continued to open the third quarter, as the Knights and the Blue Devils were tied, 36-36, at the quarter media break which came at the 4:47 mark.
• In the third quarter, FDU outscored Central, 15-9, to take a 44-38 lead into the fourth period.  Belle Lanpher led the Blue Devils with 12 points after 30 minutes of action, and she was joined in double figures by Selina Monestime with 11 points.
• The Knights opened the final quarter on a 7-1 run to take their largest lead of the contest up to that juncture at 11 points, 51-40, at the frame's media break, which game with 4:38 to play.
• The final frame ended with a 17-14 advantage for the Knights to make Thursday's final score, 61-52, in favor of the visitors.
• Rebounds played a big factor in Thursday's game, as FDU won the battle of the boards by a 42-29.  The Knights also grabbed a total of 11 offensive caroms.

NUMBER TO KNOW

2–Home games left in the regular season for the CCSU women, who will close out the year playing five of seven games away from New Britain.

NOTES

• With her 14 points on Thursday, Belle Lanpher has now scored a total of 1328 career points heading into next Thursday's game at Mercyhurst. Lanpher is now 83 points away from moving into the third slot on CCSU's all-time scoring list.   Belle has reached double figures in all 12 games she has played this season and a total of 14 straight outings.  So far in 2024-25, Lanpher is averaging 22.3 points per game.    
• Selina Monestime has now reached double-digit scoring in eight games with her 13 point performance on Thursday.
• Meghan Kenefick, who had six rebounds on Thursday, now has 552 boards for her career at Central.
• Thursday's game was a battle in the key with the Knights scoring 30 paint points, and the Blue Devils tallied 30.
• CCSU is now 5-7 at home this season.
• Even with Thursday loss, the Blue Devils head out on the road; winners of five of their last eight outings.

UP NEXT

• The Blue Devils hit the road for a two-game trip to Pennsylvania beginning next Thursday, February 13 at Mercyhurst.  Game time is in Erie, Pa. for 6:00 p.m.