Entering the week with just one Northeast Conference victory, the Central Connecticut women’s basketball team needed to get back into the win column to keep their hopes for the conference tournament alive. They were able to do just that, defeating LIU Brooklyn and Bryant, winning back-to-back games for only the second time this season.

CCSU won the LIU Brooklyn contest by a score of 63-57, and were led by guard Kiana Patterson, forward Andi Lydon and center Ashley Berube.

Patterson was effective in filling up the stat sheet, with 24 points, three rebounds and three assists. In addition, she was also effective in being a leader on the court.

“Ten of her points came from the free throw line, making shots down the line and I had the confidence that she was going to knock them down late,” head coach Beryl Piper said of Patterson’s performance.

Piper also commented on her impact as a leader on the court.

“Before the game, I talked to her about how important it is to keep her composure and talk to her teammates in a positive way because it means a lot to her teammates when she doesn’t get down and leads on the court,” Piper continued.

Her impact was evident as she is constantly talking to her teammates throughout the game, bringing everyone into a huddle to discuss game plans and most importantly making sure her teammates never keep their head down.

“Head up!” Patterson yelled to a teammate immediately after a missed three-pointer in the first half.

Confidence is key and Patterson giving her teammates confidence might have contributed to the victory.

Lydon added 13 points and Emma McCamus had 12 points off the bench. Meanwhile, Berube played a crucial role defensively with 11 rebounds and two blocks.

In their second contest of the week, Central took on Bryant, looking to continue their momentum. Down two points in the final seconds of the game, junior Bruna Vila Artigues received the pass from Lydon, hoisted up a final prayer and banked in the three-pointer to give the Blue Devils a 66-65 victory.

The win puts Central at 3-6 in conference play and places the Blue Devils in a two-way tie for eighth place in the NEC.

Outside of her big shot, Vila Artigues was an important factor all game, finishing with 13 points, four assists and six rebounds. As for her game-winning play, the Catalunya native says she never thought she would have an opportunity like this.

“I just threw it up and thought that maybe this was going in, and then it did,” Vila Artigues said. “I never thought I could make a three like that, you always want to make a shot like that, and I did.”

After the contest, head coach Beryl Piper said that her junior guard deserved that moment.

“What a great shot,” Piper said. “I’m really, really proud and happy for her because she’s such a great kid and she just works hard all the time. She deserves to hit a shot like that and to be celebrated by everybody.”

While the contest will be remembered for Vila Artigues’ heroics, both Patterson and Berube put in strong performances in the victory.

Patterson scored a team-high 20 points with four assists and three three-pointers. This marked her seventh game on the year with at least 20 points.

Berube racked up 17 points and 11 rebounds with a team-high five blocks. Piper had nothing but praise for her sophomore center following Berube’s fourth double-double of the season.

“Berube had a really, really great game,” Piper said. “Percentage-wise, she went six for seven (from the field), getting the ball down low to her was really important. She had a really solid game.”

Piper was impressed with her team’s energy throughout and called the victory a “complete team win.”

“Before the game, we talked about how important our energy was going to be and to have energy for the whole 40 minutes,” Piper said. “It was a total team win, whether you got in the game or not, the kids on the bench brought positive energy for their teammates, them cheering for great defensive plays was awesome.”

Despite the consecutive victories, Coach Piper cautioned that her team must take it one game at a time and not look too far ahead into the future. For Piper and the Blue Devils, they will begin a four-game road trip, first facing off with Saint Francis (PA).