Women's Hoops Tops LIU, 63-54

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team topped LIU Brooklyn by a score of 63-54 on Wednesday afternoon.  The Blue Devils (13-12, 7-7 NEC) earned the victory behind 13 points, eight rebounds and eight assists from junior Jessica Babe.  The Blackbirds fall to 5-20 and 2-12 in NEC play with the loss.

The Blue Devils opened the game with one of their best offensive and defensive halves of the season.  The Blue Devils scored 38 points in the half and limited the Blackbirds to just 19.  In addition, CCSU shot 43.6% from the field and 44.4% from behind the arc.

Senior Kirsten Daamen and sophomore Kaley Watras led the offense in the half.  Both scored 10 points, Watras on 4-of-8 shooting and Daamen on 5-of-8.  Watras was also 2-of-4 from behind the arc in the period.

Jessica Babe was also a key contributor in the first period with five points, seven rebounds and six assists.

CCSU finished the period with a season low two turnovers in the first half.

In the second half, the Blue Devils again opened strong with a pair of baskets to extend the lead to 42-19.  The 23-point margin was CCSU's largest of the game.

Following the 23-point lead, the Blackbirds started to climb back into the game.  The Blue Devils scored just 21 points over the final 18 minutes of the game, while LIU posted 35 second half points.

LIU made its' strongest run between the seven minute and two and a half minute marks.  During that stretch LIU scored 11 unanswered points.

However CCSU had the final run of the game.  After LIU cut the Blue Devil lead to six, CCSU scored five points to go ahead 62-52.

The Blackbrids added a final basket with 25 second left to set the final score at 63-54.

Daamen finished as the Blue Devils' leading scorer with 18 points.  She was joined in double-digits by Watras (16) and Jessica Babe (13).  Daamen also contributed four assists.

Babe also led CCSU in rebounds and assists with eight and eight.

Watras hit four three pointers in the game to set a new career-high.

Watras, Daamen, junior Lauren Arbogast and junior Jaleen Thomas all grabbed four rebounds.

The Blue Devils return to action on Saturday at NEC foe Bryant.  The game will tip-off at 1 p.m.