Forward Eileen Battagliese led Central Connecticut State with 19 points and seven assists. Qualisha Zyhier and Kimberly Kopecko added 14 points apiece. The smaller Blue Devils outrebounded the Crimson, 33-29, for the game.

The first half began auspiciously enough with sophomore center Kate Ides getting the Crimson's first two baskets on lay-ups. She would finish with 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting on the night.

The teams battled back and forth, even at 12-12 and 20-20 before the Blue Devils' run. Trailing 33-24 at half, the Crimson came out of the locker room flat, and Delaney-Smith made the decision to let five pairs of fresh legs take over.

While the starters sat for eight minutes, the subs, facing a 15-point deficit, cut the lead to 10 four times before being taken out with the Blue Devils back up 15 at 9:16 to go in the game.

Still down 15 with 5:42 to go, the Crimson began to make a run that nearly erased the futility displayed in the middle of the game.

Sparked by six points and an assist from Lee, the Crimson outscored the Blue Devils 14-1 to the 2:00 mark, behind just 65-63.

The Blue Devils took a timeout to regroup at 1:13, and Delaney-Smith sent Tubridy in for sophomore center Sarah Johnson.