Blue Devils Fall in OT at FDU

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team fell to Fairleigh Dickinson by a score of 55-53 on Saturday evening.  The Blue Devils (11-9, 5-4 NEC) and Knights (9-11, 4-5 NEC) played an exciting overtime game that featured 13 lead changes and the score tied 10 times.  Senior Jalcyn Babe led CCSU with her first double-double of the season.  She had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The first half featured six lead changes and five ties, but the Blue Devils were able to take a 24-23 lead into halftime with a late surge.

Jaclyn Babe led the Blue Devils in the first half with 11 points.  Babe shot 50% from the floor and connected on all three of her free throw attempts.  She also had a team-high five rebounds in the opening period.

Junior Jessica Babe (5), senior Kirsten Daamen (3), sophomore Kaley Watras (3) and freshman TeJahne Malone all contributed to the scoring.  The basket for Malone was the first of her collegiate career.

In the second half the Blue Devils and Knights continued to play close throughout the period, but FDU's 23-22 advantage in the second half forced the game to overtime in a 46-46 tie.

FDU was strong on the glass with 24 offensive rebounds.  The Knights registered 13 offensive boards in the second half and another five in the overtime period.  The Knight's offensive rebounds led to 24 second chance points, while CCSU had just two.

The Blue Devils forced overtime on a free throw by Daamen in the final minute of regulation.  Daamen's free throw capped a 12-6 CCSU run to close the game.  FDU had led by six points with under six minutes to play.

In overtime, FDU grabbed a four point lead before Daamen hit a layup to cut the deficit to a single basket.  Following another FDU jumper, Jessica Babe hit her second three of the game to get her team to a one point deficit.

Junior Lauren Arbogast followed with a steal on FDU's next possession and delivered the go-ahead basket for the Blue Devils, but the Knight's hit another jumper and a free throw to seal the 55-53 victory.

Daamen finished with a school record nine blocks.  She was also the primary contributor to the team's school record 13 blocks in the game.  Daamen had shared the record of seven blocks in a game with Justina Udenze.  The previous team record for blocks in a game was 11.

Freshman TeJahne Malone scored her first career points on a jumper in the first half.  She added a second basket in the second half and finished with four points, one rebound and one assist.

Jessica Babe's 12 points were right behind her sister's team-high 14.  Jessica Babe also had eight rebounds and four assists.

Arbogast had six points and seven rebounds in 32 minutes of action off the bench.  She also had a game-high three steals.

FDU held a 53-38 advantage on the glass, but the Blue Devils shot better for the game with a 36.4% mark from the field.

The loss is the first in overtime for the Blue Devils this season. CCSU is now 4-1 in overtime games.

The Blue Devils return to action on Monday night at Monmouth. That game will tip-off at 7 p.m.