By Corey Pollnow
The seniors for the Central Women’s basketball team were honored prior to their 69-60 victory over Robert Morris on Saturday afternoon at Detrick Gym. However, the most pivotal part of the season lies ahead for the Blue Devils.
The Blue Devils played physical and made the NEC’s leading scorer Artemis Spanou earn all 28 of her points. Head Coach Beryl Piper rotated different players onto Spanou, and she was visibly frustrated as she often looked towards the officials for a call after being bumped. Senior Jameilia Dillon posted ten points, three rebounds, two steals and one assist in the second start of her career.
With blood on her jersey at the postgame press conference from battling with Spanou down in the post, Dillon said, “I knew it was a big day for me. The whole season I didn’t really get a ton of minutes, so it was a chance for me to prove myself.”
Central’s largest lead was 16 points and came with less than five minutes remaining. The teams traded baskets late in the game and CCSU relied heavily on their guard play from Kaley Watras and the Babe sisters – Jessica and Jaclyn. The girls were able to hold on and earn the “W,” despite Spanou scoring 10 points in the final four minutes.
The first half belonged to Jessica Babe who scored 15 points and found a rhythm, shooting five of seven from behind the three-point arc.
The Blue Devils shot 45 percent and Coach Piper was pleased that her girls only turned the ball over eight times, in comparison to the first meeting at RMU, where the Blue Devils had 21 turnovers, shot 27 percent and lost 65-48.
Seniors Kirsten Daamen, Jackie Babe and Dillon combined for 38 of Central’s 69 points. Daamen was faced with the challenge of guarding 6’ 7” Anna Gailite and held her to six points and seven rebounds.
Although she is the shortest player on the team at 5’ 5”, Jessica Babe has a knack for securing the ball off misses. She leads the team in rebounding and posted her second straight double double, and her fourth of the season with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
Jessica Babe’s older sister, Jaclyn, finished the game with 18 points on nine of 16 shooting, eight assists and three steals.
“Their shooter [Ashley Ravelli] has been player of the week and Jackie did a really good job of defending her,” said Babe.
Coach Piper was emotional during the award ceremony prior to the game and said:
After their game on Monday night with the win 76-71 over Saint Francis, the Blue Devils have been announced as the #5 seed in the NEC tournament and play against Saint Francis University in Penn. on Sunday, TBA.