Women's Hoops Falls to LIU 67-60 On the Road

Three players scored in double figures and sophomore Gabrielle Oglesby tied a career high 10 rebounds, but Central Connecticut State University fell to Long Island by a score of 67-60 on the road Saturday afternoon. Junior Kerrianne Dugan led the Blue Devils with 13 points and added nine rebounds in the defeat. CCSU falls to 2-5 overall and 0-1 in the Northeast Conference, while the Blackbirds improve to 5-3 and 1-0 in NEC play.

Central Connecticut used a 14-3 run late in the second half to cut the Long Island lead to 57-56 with 3:41 remaining. Dugan was intergral during the stretch, tallying six points including four from the free throw line. LIU closed out the game with a 10-4 run including six straight points from junior Chelsi Johnson to finish with the 67-60 victory.

With only a one point deficit after two free throws by sophomore Shontice Simmons made it 16-15 with 9:14 left in the first half, the Blue Devils gave up a 17-6 run by the Blackbirds to make it 33-21 Long Island with only 2:28 remaining in the opening period. Central cut it to 10 at the half as Dugan completed a traditional three point play and junior Justina Udenze connected on a jump hook in the lane to finish the half at 36-26.

LIU put CCSU into a hole early, scoring the first eight points of the ball game. A three-pointer by junior Heidi Mothershead and a steal and breakaway layup by sophomore Kiara Evans highlighted the early run by the Blackbirds. The Blue Devils were held scoreless before Dugan went to the line and knocked down two free throws just 4:17 into the game.

Simmons finished with 12 points, six assists and four steals for CCSU, while junior Leanne Crockett was the final Blue Devil in double figures, tallying 10 points in the defeat. To go along with her 10 rebounds, Oglesby added seven points and three steals for Central.

The Blackbirds were led by Johnson and sophomore Ashley Palmer who recorded 17 and 16 points, respectively. Senior guard Connie James led LIU with a game high 14 rebounds, but Johnson also finished in double figures for rebounds with 10 in the win.

Central will next play on the road at non-conference foe New Hampshire on December 10 at 7:00 p.m. The Blackbirds will travel to Lafayette on Monday December 7 for a 7:00 p.m. tip.