PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by offensive inefficiency, the Providence Friars secured their first victory of the season, defeating the Central Connecticut Blue Devils 65-40 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Monday night at Dunkin’ Center.

The Friars, now 1-1, never trailed, using a stifling defensive performance to overwhelm the Blue Devils, who fell to 0-2. Providence capitalized on Central Connecticut’s mistakes, scoring 21 points off 19 Blue Devil turnovers while committing 14 of their own.

The game’s tone was set early, with both teams struggling to find an offensive rhythm. Providence led 15-11 after a first quarter that saw more combined turnovers, 10, than made field goals, 9. The Friars began to create separation in the second quarter, holding Central Connecticut to just five points on 1-of-14 shooting from the floor. A 13-2 run by Providence, capped by a Teneisia Brown layup with 1:49 remaining in the half, extended their lead to 30-17, and they took a 31-16 advantage into the break.

Central Connecticut’s offensive woes were comprehensive. The Blue Devils shot just 22.4 percent from the floor, making only 13 of their 58 attempts. They were anemic from beyond the arc, connecting on just 2 of 16 three-point tries. Their offensive rating of 52.3 points per 100 possessions underscored the difficulty of generating quality shots against the Providence defense.

The Friars, while not shooting the lights out themselves at 38 percent from the field, were far more effective in creating and converting opportunities. They dominated the interior, outscoring the Blue Devils 40-18 in the paint and grabbing 17 offensive rebounds to Central Connecticut’s 9. Providence also displayed superior ball movement, tallying 15 assists compared to just three for the Blue Devils.

Sabou Gueye led all scorers for Providence, contributing 16 points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes of action. Teneisia Brown recorded a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds, controlling the glass on both ends of the floor. Orlagh Gormley facilitated the offense, dishing out six assists to go along with eight points and eight rebounds. Audrey Shields also reached double figures with 10 points.

For Central Connecticut, no player scored in double digits. Lucia Noin, a 6-foot freshman from Santander, Spain, battled inside for a team-high 10 rebounds but was limited to six points on 3-of-12 shooting. Ciera Pearson led the Blue Devils with seven points.

The second half offered little respite for the visitors. Providence maintained its defensive pressure, opening the third quarter on a 7-2 run to push the lead to 20 points and never allowing Central Connecticut to mount a serious challenge. The Friars’ lead ballooned to as many as 27 points in the fourth quarter before settling on the 25-point final margin.

The game was played in front of an announced crowd of 668 at the Dunkin’ Center. Providence entered the contest as a heavy favorite according to statistical projections, which gave the Friars a 97.3 percent probability of victory.

The Friars will look to build on the win when they host Boston College on Saturday. Central Connecticut, still searching for its first win, returns home to face Sacred Heart on Thursday.