Women's Basketball Drops Season Opener 61-58 at Maine

Junior Leanne Crockett and sophomore Shontice Simmons each scored 16 points, but Central Connecticut State University fell to Maine by a score of 61-58 on a three-pointer with five seconds remaining in the game. Crockett and Simmons recorded 11 and seven rebounds, respectively for a Blue Devil team that outscored Maine 41-33 in the second half, but came up short and opened the season 0-1.

With under two minutes remaining in the second half Simmons connected on a three-pointer and a fastbreak layup to bring CCSU within one poitn at 56-55. The Black Bears countered when sophomore center Samantha Baranowski scored her first points of the second half to put Maine back up by three, 58-55 with 39 seconds on the clock.

Central sophomore Gabrielle Oglesby then hit her first three-pointer of the season to tie the game at 58-58 with only 24 second left in the game. After a time out by the Black Bears, senior guard Amanda Tewksbury tallied her second three-point basket of the game with five seconds remaining to win it for Maine, 61-58.

Tewksbury led Maine with 20 points and nine rebounds, while sophomore Samantha Wheeler chipped in with 12 points and five rebounds.

The Black Bears took advantage of a slow start by CCSU, as the Blue Devils fell behind 12-5 after a basket by Maine freshman guard Katelyn Vanderhoff with 11:07 remaining in the first half. Central scored the next four points, on layups by Crockett and junior Kerrianne Dugan, which cut the lead to three, at 12-9. Maine then went on a 16-8 run to finish the first half and CCSU went into the locker room with a 28-17 deficit.

CCSU came out running to start the second half. The Blue Devils capped off an 11-4 run to open the frame with a layup by Crockett to cut the Black Bear lead to 32-28. Central finally tied the game for the first time since it was 0-0 on a three-pointer by Crockett with 11:54 remaining. Her second of the game made it 36-36. The Manchester, CT native scored 10 points in the first 8:22 of the second half to lead CCSU back into the game.

Maine scored the next six points of the half to take a 42-36 lead. Central again fought back, eventually tying the game again at 46-46 on three straight free throws by sophomore Alexzandria Dowdy. The Black Bears took the lead once more with a pair of free throws by Wheeler, and CCSU would not get even with Maine until Oglesby's three-pointer with 24 seconds left.

Crockett and Simmons led the Blue Devils with 16 points a piece. The former recorded two three-pointers, while the latter finished with three in the game. Freshman Kirsten Daamen recorded six point, seven rebounds and three steals in her first collegiate action. Dugan CCSU in assists, tallying four.

The Blue Devils were held to 33.3 percent field percentage, while Maine recorded a mark of 40.4. CCSU was 6-16 from three-point range and the Black Bears finished with three out nine in the category.

CCSU will next play host to Holy Cross on Monday, November 16. It will be a 7:00 p.m. start at Detrick Gymnasium.

The 2009-10 men's and women's basketball seasons are brought to you by Farmington Bank.