After being competitive against Buffalo and Pittsburgh University on the road to start the season, Central women’s basketball had reason to be optimistic heading into their home opener against the Brown University Bears, who were 1-1 heading into the matchup.

However, optimism soon turned into disappointment as Central allowed the most points against them this season, losing 83-73.

“It’s just disappointing because this was a game we definitely could have won and they came in here and took it to us in our own gym,” head coach Beryl Piper said.

The Blue Devils shot 37.3% from the field while allowing Brown to shoot 55.4%. They were also out-rebounded, lost the assist battle and allowed 44 points in the paint.

“We have to do a better job in individual defense and help defense,” Piper said. “We had a lot of possessions where we played good defense and then we take a split second off and someone scores a layup. Those are killers.”

“It’s just the defensive intensity, the rebuilding, the things we don’t do in practice that translate into us losing games,” junior guard Emma McCamus said.

“You can’t win a game when you’re out-rebounded like that,” Piper said. “It starts in practice, being physical, taking boxing out seriously and making it a priority.”

Offensively, Central had three players score double digits and all scorers were led by McCamus, who scored a career-high 30 points. She also recorded two assists and three steals.

“It was nice to get a career-high, but it was bittersweet because who cares that I scored 30 points, I just want the team to win,” McCamus said.

“Emma had a really, really good game offensively and defensively,” Piper said. “She really had the hot hand tonight.”

Forward Ashley Forker and center Ashley Berube were the other double-digit scorers against Brown. Forker had 13 points, two rebounds, four assists and three steals. Berube scored 14 points, collected a team-leading eight rebounds and registered two assists, two steals, four blocks.

Central started the game on fire from the field and was only down by four at halftime. They stayed close due to their lights out shooting in the first and second quarters.

The Blue Devils shot 46.7% from the field in the first, 62.5% from three and 55.6% from the field in the second.

In the second half, the Bears adjusted and played more zone defense against the Blue Devils.

“The same thing happened against Pitt,” Piper said. “When they went zone, it completely took us out of our rhythm. We have to be able to make the transition, we have to be aggressive.”

The Blue Devils finished the game shooting 45.5% from downtown and 86.4% from the line. Piper said those are great numbers and you’d expect to win with those percentages but they ultimately did not as a result of poor defense.

“We have a tough schedule right now,” Piper said. “It’s not easy but we’re not making excuses.”

In terms of getting her team motivated on the road, Piper kept it simple.

“They want to win, I don’t have to say much to get them motivated.”

Central was back on the road to face Lehigh University this week on Monday, Nov. 18. Tip-off was scheduled for 5:30 p.m.