After closing their three-game road trip with a loss at Bryant University last Saturday, the Blue Devils got a week off before getting the chance to face the Bulldogs again, but this time at home. Despite the time off, Central Connecticut State could not register a win, falling 62-51.

Despite losing by double-digits, CCSU was only down by one point heading into the locker rooms at halftime. Coming out of the locker rooms, the Bulldogs were much sharper than the Blue Devils, outscoring them 19-4 in the third quarter.

“They were really physical with us,” interim head coach Kerri Reaves said. “It kind of took us out of our rhythm. We struggled to score in the third but picked it up in the fourth.”

Forward Ashley Forker was one of the few bright spots for Central as she was the only Blue Devils to score in double-figures. Forker finished with 13 points in 35 minutes on 60 percent shooting from the field. She added six rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Guards Emma McCamus and Forever Toppin each scored nine points each and were tied for second-most on the team against Bryant.

McCamus added a rebound and a steal while Toppin contributed two steals and one block but five turnovers.

The Blue Devils committed 21 turnovers as a team, but forced 27 against the Bulldogs. Central scored 30 points off of turnovers compared to Bryant’s 14 but ultimately, it was not enough for them.

Personal fouls plagued the Blue Devils against the Bulldogs, four of five starters committed three or more fouls. This may have contributed to inconsistent playing time, throwing off the entire offensive scheme and rhythm.

Ashley Chin only played 15 minutes, committed three fouls and only attempted two shots the entire game.

Bruna Vila Artigues played only 16 minutes, committed four fouls and only attempted one shot.

Starting center Ashley Berube, who has led the Blue Devils in scoring recently, played 23 minutes, committed four fouls and shot 1/11 from the field against the Bulldogs.

“It was just something that happened,” Reaves said. “But we have confidence in our whole roster one through 15. Of course, you’d like to see your veteran players play the majority of the game, but we have other players that can come in and contribute.”

While the starters struggled, Central’s bench played well, they contributed 23 points. Matching Bryant’s bench productivity.

Toppin led the bench charge, followed by Danielle Delano who scored seven points in 17 minutes.

The Blue Devils are playing better and better each time they step onto the hardwood floor but they have to figure out how to finish and maintain their usual first-half momentum.

Central has one more home game against Fairleigh Dickinson University on Monday before heading back on the road for a two-game stretch against Wagner College and Merrimack University.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. against the Knights and 4:30 p.m. against the Seahawks.