NEW BRITAIN, CT (12/31/08) -   The Colgate University women's basketball team was defeated by Central Connecticut State, 83-63, at Detrick Gymnasium on Wednesday afternoon.  Blue Devils' Kerrianne Dugan led all players with 21 points, while Central Connecticut's Justina Udenze led in rebounding, posting 11 boards.

The Raiders (3-10) were led by Tayler Wejnert (Ramsey, N.J.) with 20 points and six rebounds.  Candice Green (East Brunswick, N.J.), Kelly Korkowski (Williamsburg, Va.), Tricia Oakes (Evergreen, Colo.) and Krista Moser (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) followed with eight points each for Colgate, with Green adding four assists and Moser two steals.

The Blue Devils (6-5) started off strong, with Leanne Crockett putting up five points in the opening three and a half minutes to give Central Connecticut a 9-2 advantage.  Sami Kozlowski (New Market, Md.) dished out a pass to Oakes who scored in the paint.  Wejnert followed with another two-point basket to bring the Raiders within three, 9-4 four minutes into the game.  The Blue Devils, who had seven steals in the first half, were able to force Colgate turnovers and build a 21 point lead with just under seven minutes remaining in the half.

The Raiders, however, started to chip away at the Blue Devils' lead, starting with a basket from Oakes on the baseline with 5:49 on the clock.  Oakes added two more baskets while Green knocked down a three.  Georgia Gier (Mercer Island, Wash.) and Korkowski also added baskets to cut Central Connecticut's lead to 14, with 2:24 left on the clock.  By half-time, the Blue Devils led 41-26.

Colgate shot 41.4 percent (12.29) in the first half, while the Blue Devils went 16-29 on 55.2 percent shooting.  Central Connecticut edged out the Raiders in rebounding, 17-13 in the first session.

The Raiders played with intensity in the second half, but Central Connecticut was still able to build a 33 point advantage.  Moser was able to draw out the fouls and had several good three-point plays, while Wejnert contributed 12 points, to cut Central Connecticut's lead to 19.  But the Blue Devils were able to hold on for the 83-63 home-court victory.

The Raiders finished the game with a 44.4 shooting percentage (24-54) and shot 91.7 percent (11-12) from the free throw line.  Central Connecticut shot 53.2 percent overall and were 7-15 from behind the arc.  The Blue Devils just barely out-rebounded Colgate, 31-29.

Colgate will now travel to Washington D.C. to take on Howard University on Jan. 2.  Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. 

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