Crockett, Dugan Lead Women's Hoops Past FDU, 79-61

Junior Leanne Crockett led CCSU with a career best 26 points and junior Kerrianne Dugan recorded the first Blue Devil double-double from points and assists since 1994 as Central Connecticut State University (8-12, 5-5) defeated Fairleigh Dickinson (6-15, 2-8) by a score of 79-61 at home Saturday afternoon. Crockett didn't miss a shot from the field, going 9-9 from the floor and 4-4 from beyond the arc. Dugan was only one rebound shy of the first ever triple-double in CCSU's Division I history. The junior forward netted 19 points, dealt out a career high 11 assists and grabbed a game best nine rebounds.

Down 25-24 with 7:16 to play in the first half, CCSU used a 13-4 run to take a 37-29 lead with just under two and a half left in the opening period. Dugan was integral during the stretch as she got things started, feeding sophomore Rachel Chandler for the first three-pointer of her career. Dugan then knocked down a triple for herself before the Knights' Alannah Driscoll-Sbar scored on a layup.

Chandler then returned the favor to Dugan as the sophomore found the junior for a jumper from the top of the key off an inbounds play. Two free throws by FDU's Alyssa Mayrose interrupted the Blue Devils run, but Crockett connected on her third three-pointer of the first half to extend the CCSU lead to six at 35-29 off of an assist from Dugan. Junior Justina Udenze finished off the first half stretch with a turnaround jumper to give Central the 37-29 lead.

Crockett led the Blue Devils in the first period with 14 points on five of five shooting and 3-3 from beyond the arc. Dugan added 13 points, six assists and three rebounds before the break. CCSU shot a solid 51.7 percent from the floor in the first half and went six for nine from three point range. Fairleigh Dickinson also shot well from the field, scoring on 50.0 percent of its shots. The Knights got things done on the inside in the first half as they outscored Central by a mark of 24-8 in the paint.

Central opened the second half with a 9-2 run on three-pointers from three different players to take a 50-39 lead early in the second period. Senior P.J. Wade, Crockett and sophomore Alexzandria Dowdy each knocked down a triple in the opening minutes of the second frame.

After the Knights cut the Blue Devil lead to eight at 52-44 on a three-pointer by junior Jenna Strich, Central tallied 13 straight points to take a 65-44 lead that proved to be insurmountable for the Knights. Crockett continued her hot shooting during the stretch, finishing two layups and connecting on two of two free throws for the Blue Devils. Dugan handed out three assists during the run, including both of Crockett's layups. Udenze capped off the 13-0 stretch by the Blue Devils with back to back layups, getting assists from both Dugan and Crockett.

CCSU went on to win the home contest by a score of 79-61, shooting the best percentage from the floor since the last time the Blue Devils faced the Knights, at 51.8 percent. Thanks to Crockett's 4-4 mark Central shot a season-best 60.0 percent from beyond the arc, while holding the Knights to 23.1 percent from three-point range.

Crockett finished with a career best 26 points, which is the highest single game total by a Blue Devil this season and the highest since February 14 of last year. She shot nine of nine from the floor, four of four from beyond the arc and went four of five from the free throw line. The Manchester, CT native added six rebounds, two steals and one block in the victory.

Dugan's double-double of 19 points and 11 assists was the first of the scoring and assisting nature since Paige Martin recorded 11 points and 12 assists on December 20 of 1994. Her nine rebounds were a game high, but it made her one shy of the first ever triple-double in Central's Division I history. The Waterford, CT native went seven of 16 from the field and connected on one of two attempts from beyond the arc. She hit all four of her free throws and added two steals in the win.

FDU sophomore Mariyah Laury led the Knights with 22 points and four steals. Sophomore Esther Wallace added 10 points and five rebounds for the Knights in the defeat.

Central Connecticut, now 8-12 on the season and 5-5 in Northeast Conference action, will next play a pair of matchups with Bryant on February 4 and 6.

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