Women’s College Basketball: Central Connecticut State University 62, Rider University 61 (ot)

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — Kaley Watras hit a basket with 14.5 seconds left in overtime, the ninth and final lead change of the contest as Central Connecticut defeated Rider University 62-61 on Friday evening (Dec. 21) in a non-conference women’s basketball game.

Trailing 58-57, senior Sironda Chambers (Wilmington, Del.) made two free throws as Rider (5-5) took a one-point lead with 2:07 remaining in overtime.  Chambers was five for five from the free throw line and finished with 13 points and five rebounds, playing 42 minutes.

Trailing 60-59, Chambers hit a jumper with 39 seconds left in o.t., as the Broncs retook the lead 61-60.  Chambers had four of Rider’s six points in the overtime period.

Trailing 40-26 with 16:39 left in regulation, Rider went on a 13-0 run, four points each by junior MyNeshia McKenzie (Springfield, Pa./Springfield (Delco)) and senior Dior Brown (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) as the Broncs got to within one, 40-39 with 12:00 left in the game.

McKenzie led Rider with 15 points and added seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals with D. Brown adding a career-high 13 points to go along with five rebounds (three offensive) off the bench.

Trailing 43-39, Rider went on an 8-1 run, five points by McKenzie, as the Broncs went into the lead 47-44 with 8:29 left in the second half.

Trailing 55-50, CCSU used a 5-0 run to tie the game with 2:17 remaining in regulation, the sixth and final tie of the evening.  Neither team was able to score in the final two minutes of regulation.

Leading 12-8, CCSU (5-4) went on a 19-9 run as the Blue Devils opened up a 14-point lead (31-17) with 38 seconds left in the opening half.

Chambers scored the last five points of the half, all in the final 21 seconds as Rider cut the CCSU lead to nine, 31-22 at intermission.

The Blue Devils scored 10 of the first 14 points in the second half and led by 14, 40-26 with 16:39 left in regulation.

Rider was out-rebounded 44-38.

The Broncs had eight blocks in the game, led by five blocks from senior Caitlin Bopp (Baltimore, Md./Inst. of Notre Dame).  Bopp finished with six points, eight rebounds and two assists before fouling out.

Former East Coast Conference rivals, Rider and CCSU last met on February 27, 1992 with the Blue Devils winning 75-66, 7,330 days ago.  Rider leads the all-time series 5-3.

Rider is now 6-5 in overtime games under head coach Lynn Milligan.  Since the 1981-82 season, Rider has won 12 of 29 overtime games.

The Broncs host St. Francis Brooklyn in the final non-conference regular season game on Dec. 29 at 2pm in Alumni Gymnasium.