The Central Connecticut women's basketball team will host Rhode Island tonight at Detrick Gym. Tip-off of the 2013-14 Home Opener is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Blue Devils (0-2) and Rams (0-1) opened last season against each other at the Ryan Center on the campus of URI. CCSU earned a 57-49 overtime victory in that game.
Here are some notes on the Blue Devils heading into tonights game...
Series History • The Rams hold a 7-4 advantage in the all-time series between these programs, but CCSU has won the last two meetings. Last season, the Blue Devils went to Kingston, RI, and won 57-49 in overtime. The game was the season opener for both squads. The Blue Devils also won the 2011-12 meeting at Detrick Gym, 50-45.
Road Opening • The Blue Devils opened the 2013-14 season on the road at American Athletic Conference members UCF and South Florida. The Blue Devils fell on Friday to the Knights by a score of 65-51 and to the Bulls on Sunday 81-47. The Blue Devils were led by seniors Jessica Babe and Lauren Arbogast over the weekend. Babe averaged 12.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, while Arbogast averaged 9.5 points and 5.0 boards.
Career-High for Babe • Jessica Babe matched her career-high with 21 points against the UCF Knights. She connected on seven-of-13 shots from the floor and hit four three pointers, Babe did not miss a shot inside of the three point line in the game. She also had her standard eight rebounds and four assists.
Harrington on the Boards • Head coach Beryl Piper said prior to the season that sophomore Amanda Harrington needed to rebound when she was on the floor. Harrington followed through by pulling down 15 boards over the first two games of the season. She averaged 5.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 24 minutes per game over the first two contests.
Getting on the Board • Freshman Aleah Epps and Lauren Wolosik both scored their first collegiate points on Sunday at USF. Wolosik connected on a pair of free throws eight minutes into the first quarter, while Epps dropped in a basket during the second half. Wolosik finished the game with six points and Epps with four.
Great at Home • The Blue Devils have won three straight home openers, including a 78-69 victory over UMass last season. Under head coach Beryl Piper the Blue Devils are 4-2 in home openers. The Blue Devils were 11-3 at home last season, including 8-1 in NEC home games. This is nothing new for the Blue Devils who are 29-11 at home over the last three seasons.
Who is Back • The Blue Devils return 11 players from last year's squad, including three starters. Seniors Jessica Babe and Jaleen Thomas and junior Kaley Watras. Senior Lauren Arbogast saw extensive action off the bench last season as CCSU's sixth-women and worked her way into the starting line-up 12 times. Also returning are junior Johnna Fisher, sophomores Raven Makins, Tejahne Malone, Kayla Miller, Nicole Ferguson and Amanda Harrington. Senior Brooke Bailey will also return to action after sitting out last season.
Who is Gone • The Blue Devils lost Jaclyn Babe, Kirsten Daamen and Jameilia Dillon to graduation. Babe played only two seasons with CCSU, but became one of the program's elite scorers and was a First Team All-NEC selection last season after scoring 474 points. Daamen, CCSU's career leader in blocked shots with 200, was a defensive force for CCSU in the paint over her four seasons. Dillon provided CCSU with valuable minutes off the bench in in a spot start roll over her career.