Lewis Scores 21 In Women's Basketball Road Matinee

The Central Connecticut women's basketball team gave drew even in the final minutes of the contest before falling to NEC host Mercyhurst, 75-66 

Kiyah Lewis led three Blue Devils in double figures, with a game-high 21 points on the afternoon. Lucia Noin tallied 18 and Mia Toure had her second career double-figures effort with 10 points. 

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE 

Score: Mercyhurst 75, CCSU 66 
Records: CCSU (1-26, 1-15 NEC), Mercyhurst (12-15, 12-4 NEC) 
Location: Mercyhurst Athletic Center l | Erie, PA 

KEY MOMENTS  

• The squads traded points over the opening minutes of the contest and Noin scoring the first six points for the Blue Devils, giving them a 6-4 edge when she scored a turnaround jumper after corralling the offensive board. Mercyhurst hit 5-8 over the next 3:33 as it outscored the Blue Devils 13-4 to take a 17-10 advantage with 3:10 remaining in the opening quarter.  

• The margin was still seven when Mia Toure knocked down a pair of free throws with 81 ticks left in the period and Cierra Pearson ended the first-half scoring answering a Sofia Wilson basket to bring Central within five, 21-16 at the end of the quarter. 

• The Lakers opened a 27-18 lead 3:09 into the second quarter, on the strength of a 6-2 run, that saw Trinity Barnes hit a pair of free throws for the CCSU points. CCSU scored nine of the next 12 points, in a 2:57 stretch where they were 3-4 from behind the arc and closed to 30-27 when Christa Ramos drained a three with 2:53 remaining before intermission. 

• Wilson responded 19 seconds later with a three pointer, before the Blue Devils closed the half on a 5-3 stretch to get within 36-32 at the break. 

• Noin knocked down a turn-around jumper in the opening minute of the second-half to close the deficit to two, 36-34. Mercyhurst used a 7-2 burst in the next 90 second to expand that advantage back to 43-36 when Jenna Van Schaik hit from behind the arc at the 7:14 mark. 

• Trailing 48-40, Kiyah Lewis scored five points in 2:01 of action, as she led a Blue Devil run to close within three, 50-47, with 2:32 left in the quarter. The Lakers pushed it back to a six-point edge, 57-51 on a Lena Walz three-pointer, before Lewis beat the buzzer to send the game to the fourth quarter as a four-point margin, 57-53. 

• Mercyhurst built its advantage back to five, 66-61, when Erica Hall scored in the middle of the final period. Lewis converted a conventional three-point play on the next possession and then after a defensive stop, Pearson brought Central even, 66-66, with a layup in the paint, tying he game 66-66 with 3:56 to play. Mercyhurst scored on its next two possessions to take the lead and didn't allow Blue Devil point the rest of the way to earn the win. 

NUMBER TO KNOW   

6 – The Blue Devils equaled a season-high with six blocks 

NOTES  

• Toure was 6-6 at the line, as the Blue Devils hit 12-14 at the stripe 

• Central scored 40 points in the paint 

• Lewis was 8-14 from the field on the afternoon, and was a perfect 3-3 at the free throw line 

• The Blue Devils were good on 44.6 percent (25-56) from the field, equaling the third-best shooting day of the season 

• Pearson finished with nine points and a game-high eight rebounds, to go along with three steals and three assists 

• Noin had six boards and four assists to go with her 18 points, that came on 9-18 shooting 

• The Blue Devils had a 12-1 edge in bench points 

• Both squads took care of the ball, combining for just 22 turnovers on the afternoon 

UP NEXT  

• The Blue Devils play their final regular season road game on Saturday, at Saint Francis. The game in Loretto, PA will tip-off at 2:00 pm.