Women's Basketball Picks Up A Tight 62-61 Home Victory Over Chicago State

A pair of clutch free throws by Kayla Henry with 14.1 seconds gave the Central Connecticut State women's basketball team a 62-60 lead which they never relinquished in Detrick Gymnasium on Thursday night, as the Blue Devils edged the visiting Chicago State University Cougars, 62-61. The victory gives Central a two-game winning streak, as the team ups its Northeast Conference record to 7-5 and its overall mark to 8-17.  Chicago State is now 4-24 overall and 4-9 in the NEC.  Belle Lanpher led CCSU with a game-high 19 points.  She was joined in double-digit scoring by three teammates, Lucia Noin and Meghan Kenefick with 13 points each and Amaya Williams with 10 points.  Lanpher had a stellar all-around game in the victory adding eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals.  Noin led Central on the boards with 11 rebounds to give her a double-double in consecutive games.  Along with her game-winning free throws, Kayla Henry also had nine rebounds and added seven points.  Aiyanna Culver led the visitors with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, and she was joined in double figures by Tania Allen with 12 points.

GAME INFORMATION |BOX SCORE

Score:  CCSU 62, Chicago State 61
Records: CCSU (8-17, 7-5 NEC), Chicago State (4-24, 4-9 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, Conn.

KEY MOMENTS

• A Belle Lanpher put-back basket 1:17 into play gave the Blue Devils a quick 2-0 lead.
• After CCSU extended its lead to 9-2 with Lanpher scoring seven of those nine points, the visiting Cougars went on a 7-0 run to tie the contest at 9-9 at the first quarter media timeout at the 4:35 mark.
• That Chicago State run would extend to 12-0 forcing Central to call a timeout down, 14-9, at the 2:58 mark of the opening stanza.
• The Cougars led, 17-12, after the first 10 minutes of play.  Belle Lanpher led CCSU with seven points, and Chicago State's Aiyanna Culver led all scorers with 10 points.
• The visitors upped their advantage by one point, 26-20, at the second quarter media break which came at the 4:49 mark of the frame.
• The Blue Devils would chip away to cut the Cougars' lead to two, 33-31 at the half, as they won the second quarter, 19-16.  Belle Lanpher and Lucia Noin led CCSU with 11 points apiece over the first 20 minutes of action.  Lanpher also grabbed a team-high five rebounds.  Aiyanna Culver led the visitors with 13 points and nine rebounds.
• CCSU came out red-hot to open the third quarter going on a 12-4 run to grab a 43-37 lead and forcing Chicago State to call timeout at the 6:51 mark.
• Central outscored Chicago State, 21-14, in the third quarter to take a five-point, 52-47, lead into the final 10 minutes.
• The Cougars would take a 56-54 lead with 6:49 to play on a Marisa Gant three-point shot.
• A hoop by Meghan Kenefick at the 4:55 mark of the fourth gave the Blue Devils a slim 58-56 at the quarter media break which came with 4:32 to go.
• With the scored tied at 58-58, CSSU would take a 60-58 lead on layup by Amaya Williams with 1:41 to play.
• The Cougars would then knot things up at 60-60 on a bucket by Kayla Mount with 43.1 second to go in the fourth.
• Kayla Henry would knock down two free throws with 14.1 seconds remaining to nudge the Blue Devils to a 62-60 lead.
• The Cougars Josie Hill could not connect on a layup with 1.5 to play but the rebound was knocked out of bounds with possession staying with Chicago State, and on the ensuing inbounds play, Central's Belle Lanpher was called for a foul with 1.0 second left sending Tania Allen to the line.  After making the first free throw, Allen missed the second to make the final score, 62-61, as Lucia Noin pulled down her 11 rebounds of the night.

NUMBER TO KNOW

4–Games remain on the Blue Devils' regular season slate.

NOTES

• With her 19 points on Thursday, Belle Lanpher has now scored a total of 1391 career points heading into Saturday's game at Stonehill. Lanpher is now 20 points away from moving into the third slot on CCSU's all-time scoring list.   Belle has reached double figures in all 15 games she has played this season and a total of 18 straight outings.  So far in 2024-25, Lanpher is averaging 22.0 points per game.    
• Central won the battle of the boards against the Cougars by a 44-35 margin.
• Lucia Noin notched her second double-double in a CCSU uniform on Thursday with 13 points and 11 boards, after she produced a 17-point and 10-rebound performance in Saturday's win at Saint Francis.  Tonight's 11 rebounds are a career-high for Lucia.
• Thursday's win avenges an 84-77 loss by the Blue Devils in Chicago on January 23, 2025.
• CCSU is now 6-7 at home so far this season heading into the squad's regular season home finale on March 1 against Wagner.

UP NEXT

• The Blue Devils head back on the road to open a two-game sojourn away from New Britain with a tilt at Stonehill College on Saturday, February 22 at 2:00 p.m.  After taking on the Skyhawks, CCSU will travel to LeMoyne on Thursday, February 27; before returning to Detrick Gymnasium for the team's final regular season home game versus Wagner on the first day of the month of March.