Links: Box Score
Video: Highlights
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College women's basketball team scored 34 fourth-quarter points on Sunday afternoon against Central Connecticut, but the Warriors ran out of time in their attempt to comeback, falling by a 73-67 final at Hammel Court. Merrimack dropped to 3-7 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play while Central Connecticut improved to 4-8 (4-8 NEC).
Facing a 49-33 deficit at the start of the final quarter, the Warriors scored the Blue Devils by 10 in the fourth to make things interesting. Over a span of 7:49, Merrimack used a 23-10 run to cut its deficit down to five, 61-56, at the 1:55 mark of the final quarter. Central contained the hosts at that point, however, making all 10 of its free throw attempts in the final two minutes to emerge victorious.
Sophomore
Jayme DeCesare enjoyed a strong performance with a season-high 17 points including a career-best five 3-pointers. Senior
Mayson Kimball was right behind her with 16 points while classmate
Alyssa Casey flirted with a double-double again with 12 points and eight rebounds. Dejah Jenkins and Forever Toppin led the Blue Devils with 16 and 15 points, respectively.
The Basics
Score: Central Connecticut 73,
Merrimack 67
Records: Merrimack (3-7, 3-7 NEC) | Central Connecticut (4-8, 4-8 NEC)
Location: North Andover, Mass. | Hammel Court
Rapid Recap
- Senior Alyssa Casey scored Merrimack's first four points, but the Blue Devils netted 12 points during that span to take an eight-point lead. The Blue Devils led by as many as 12 in the quarter, 18-6, but Casey hit her third field goal of the frame in the final minutes to bring Merrimack within 10 points after 10 minutes.
- The visitors continued to play well in the second. Consecutive 3-pointers at the midway point of the quarter created a 16-point disparity, 27-11. DeCesare answered with a 3-pointer of her own to bring Merrimack within 13, but the Blue Devils scored six of the final eight points of the quarter, taking its largest lead of the first half to the locker room (33-16).
- Merrimack shot 54.5 percent in the third quarter to begin chipping away at the Blue Devils' lead. The Warriors made four straight 3-pointers in the early portion of the third quarter, but were only able to bring their deficit down to 15 (43-28) with 5:45 on the clock. Later in the quarter, sophomore Alana Fursman hit a baseline layup to make it a 14-point game, but Central answered on its next possession to bring the score to 49-33, which is where it remained heading to the final quarter
- Another triple from DeCesare started Merrimack's fourth-quarter charge. The Warriors went on an 8-0 burst to trim their deficit to 10 at 54-44, but Central was able to increase the lead back to 13, 60-47, with 6:18 remaining. Over the next 4:23, Merrimack went on a 9-1 run to pull within five points (61-56) with 1:55 to go. Central Connecticut was able to ice the game at the charity stripe from there, however, holding on for the six-point triumph
Notes and Numbers
- Merrimack's 34-point fourth quarter was its highest scoring quarter of the season
- The Warriors shot 57.1 percent in the second half (16-28) compared to 22.6 percent in the first half (7-31)
- CCSU owned edges in both points off turnovers (16-8) as well as bench scoring (22-8)
- DeCesare nearly set a new career high in scoring while posting her best shooting performance of the season (6-13). Her five three's best her previous single-game high of three, while she added six rebounds and three assists. Over her last three games, the second-year guard is averaging 12.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game
- Merrimack set season highs in both 3-pointers made (13) and 3-point percentage (.500) in a game this season
Up Next
The Warriors visit Bryant University for a single game on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. down in Smithfield, R.I.
