NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Interstat) — The Central Connecticut women’s basketball team earned its first victory of the season Saturday, overcoming an early deficit to defeat Chicago State 86-75 at William H. Detrick Gymnasium. The Blue Devils, who entered the game 0-25, used a dominant second half to secure the win. After trailing by four at halftime, Central Connecticut outscored the Cougars 51-39 after the break, including a 28-point fourth quarter. Lucia Noin led Central Connecticut with 25 points, while Kiyah Lewis added 25. Keona McGee scored 19 points for Chicago State. Central Connecticut shot 54.9% from the field and capitalized at the free-throw line, making 27 of 38 attempts. The Blue Devils improved to 1-25, while Chicago State fell to 8-20.

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Interstat) — In a season defined by struggles, the Central Connecticut Blue Devils found a moment of triumph on their home floor Saturday, securing just their second victory of the season with an 86-75 win over the Chicago State Cougars in a Northeast Conference women’s basketball game at William H. Detrick Gymnasium. The game, played before an announced crowd of 201, was a tale of two halves and ultimately decided by a dominant fourth-quarter surge from the Blue Devils. After trailing for much of the contest, Central Connecticut outscored Chicago State 28-19 in the final period to pull away. The most critical phase of the game began late in the third quarter and extended into the fourth. With Chicago State holding a narrow lead, Central Connecticut’s defense catalyzed a decisive run. A sequence of steals and forced turnovers by the Blue Devils, particularly from guard Ciera Pearson, disrupted the Cougars’ offensive flow and ignited transition opportunities. This defensive pressure coincided with a cold shooting spell for Chicago State, allowing Central Connecticut to erase the deficit and build a lead it would not relinquish. Central Connecticut’s victory was powered by a combined 50 points from its standout duo. Lucia Noin, a sophomore from Santander, Spain, led all scorers with 25 points, adding four assists in 34 minutes. Kiyah Lewis of Fredericksburg, Virginia, matched her with 25 points of her own, contributing three assists over 36 minutes. Their consistent scoring, especially in the paint and at the free-throw line, provided the offensive foundation for the Blue Devils. Pearson, from Teaneck, New Jersey, filled the stat sheet with 11 points, three assists, a block, and a game-high six steals, her defensive activity proving pivotal. Chicago State, which had defeated Central Connecticut 75-69 just over two weeks prior on Feb. 5, was led by Keona McGee of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who scored 19 points. Kyara Champagne of Queens, New York, added 12 points, and Kayla Mount of Detroit, Michigan, contributed 11 points and two blocks off the bench. Despite the loss, Chicago State won several statistical battles. The Cougars dominated the offensive glass, grabbing 12 rebounds to Central Connecticut’s three, which led to a 44-38 advantage in points in the paint. Chicago State also forced 19 Blue Devil turnovers, converting them into 19 points. However, Central Connecticut’s superior efficiency proved decisive. The Blue Devils shot 54.9% from the field (28 of 51) compared to Chicago State’s 40.3% (27 of 67). Central Connecticut also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 27 of 38 attempts, while the Cougars struggled, converting only 16 of 27. The Blue Devils also dished out 13 assists to 10 turnovers, while Chicago State had 10 assists against 15 turnovers. The game began with Chicago State establishing an early edge, taking a 19-16 lead after the first quarter and extending it to a 36-35 advantage at halftime. The Cougars maintained a slim lead through a tightly contested third quarter, entering the final period ahead 56-58. But the Blue Devils’ fourth-quarter explosion, fueled by defensive stops and efficient offense, turned the tide for good. With the win, Central Connecticut improved its season record to 2-25 overall and 1-13 in NEC play, securing its first conference victory. Chicago State fell to 8-20 overall and 6-8 in the conference. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Chicago State had entered the game with a 66.6% probability to win. Central Connecticut next travels to face Mercyhurst on Thursday. Chicago State returns home to host Long Island on Thursday.

Preview: Chicago State Cougars at Central Connecticut Blue Devils NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Interstat) — Two teams heading in opposite directions will meet Saturday when the Chicago State Cougars visit the Central Connecticut Blue Devils in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game organized by the Northeast Conference. The matchup at William H. Detrick Gymnasium pits a Chicago State squad (8-19) seeking momentum against a Central Connecticut team (0-25) desperate for its first win of the season. The Blue Devils are one of the few remaining winless teams in Division I. Chicago State enters with confidence from the previous meeting, having defeated Central Connecticut 75-69 at home on Feb. 5. In that game, the Cougars weathered a second-half push from the Blue Devils to secure the victory. A key player for the Cougars is Kayla Mount, who contributed 4 points in 16 minutes in the first matchup. Mount is coming off a 7-point performance in 20 minutes in a 66-52 loss at Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday. For Central Connecticut, the focus will be on Lucia Noin, who has been a consistent offensive bright spot during a difficult season. Noin is fresh off a career-high 28-point effort in 39 minutes during a 65-46 loss at Le Moyne on Thursday. However, she was limited to 15 minutes and 8 points in the earlier loss to Chicago State. The Blue Devils’ struggles have been pronounced, losing by an average of over 20 points per game during their skid. Their most recent outing, a 77-36 home loss to Fairleigh Dickinson on Feb. 14, highlighted offensive challenges. Conversely, Chicago State has shown an ability to win close games, with four of its eight victories coming by 5 points or fewer this season, including the win over Central Connecticut. Saturday’s contest represents a critical opportunity for Central Connecticut to break through, while Chicago State aims to complete a season sweep and build a winning streak in conference play. Tip-off is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.