Central Connecticut Women’s basketball team is still searching for their first Northeast Conference victory after dropping three conference matchups against Long Island University, Mount St. Mary’s and Fairleigh Dickinson this past week.

The Blue Devils were able to keep the games close, losing by single digits but were not able to close out late. Central lost 63-61 against the Sharks, 72-64 against the Mount and 66-47 against the Knights.

Junior forward Ashley Forker led the way for the Blue Devils as she posted a career-high 17 points against the Mount, 16 points against Long Island.

During her career night, Forker shot 50% from the field (5/10, 1/2 from 3), secured eight rebounds and dished out seven assists. Five of her eight total rebounds came on the offensive end of the floor.

Fellow classmate Ashley Berube was also a bright spot for Central. The center was the leading scorer in all three matchups for her team. Berube scored 16 against LIU while adding eight rebounds, 18 against Mount St. Mary’s to go along with nine rebounds and 23 against Fairleigh Dickinson to close out the road trip.

Berube has recorded double-figure scoring in nine straight games. Her performances earned her an NEC prime performer last week.

Central’s matchup against the Sharks was one the closest games of the year for the Blue Devils as they lost by two and the two teams were nearly identical in multiple categories.

CCSU shot 35.9% from the field compared to LIU’s 35.4%. Central edged out the Sharks in free throws (12 to 10), turnovers (10 to 13), points off turnovers (15 to 5), points in the paint (28 to 24) and fastbreak points (11 to 5).

Both teams banked in on 23 field goals, but where Long Island separated itself from the Blue Devils was the three-point line. The sharks hit seven threes compared to Central three. LIU also out-rebounded Central 50 to 38.

CCSU was not able to close out LIU and earn their second victory of the season despite the Sharks only making one shot out of 14 in the fourth quarter.

Centrals next opportunity for a victory came against The Mount, but defensively, the Blue Devils allowed their opponent the shoot over 50% from both the field and three-point land.

While the Mount was over 50%, CCSU shot 39% from the field and 35.7% from beyond the arc. Central also had 21 turnovers and allowed 23 points off of those turnovers.

LIU scored 40 points in the paint.

Central won the rebound battle against The Mount 36 to 24 and edged them out in second-chance points, 11 to 0.

While the game was lost by eight points, Mount St. Mary’s led by 22 points at one point before Central fought back, but fell just short of the victory once again.

The Blue Devils suffered the worst loss at the end of their three-game road trip, losing by 19 to the Knights. Central only made 15 field goals compared to their opponents 24 and shot 30.6% from the field. CCSU also only made one three-pointer, courtesy of Berube, against the Knights.

The Blue Devils lost the rebound and assist battle while committing more total turnovers.

CCSU returns home for a two-game homestand against the Wagner Seahawks and the Sacred Heart Pioneers this Saturday, Jan. 25 and Monday, Jan. 27. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 and 7 p.m. for each game.