Preview: Long Island Sharks at Central Connecticut Blue Devils

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Interstat) — The Long Island Sharks look to build momentum from a dominant win when they visit the struggling Central Connecticut Blue Devils in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball matchup Friday at William H. Detrick Gymnasium.

The Sharks (5-6) enter on the heels of an 87-30 rout of Berkeley on Dec. 29, their most lopsided victory of the season. Long Island will be heavily favored against a Central Connecticut team still seeking its first win.

The Blue Devils (0-11) have faced a difficult non-conference schedule, with their most recent outing a 98-30 loss at Maryland on Dec. 19. They have lost by an average of 22.5 points per game this season.

A key matchup will feature Long Island’s Kadidia Toure against Central Connecticut’s Lucia Noin. Toure, coming off a 15-point performance in 19 minutes against Berkeley, has been a consistent scorer. She posted a 28-point, 13-rebound double-double in a narrow overtime loss to Massachusetts-Lowell on Dec. 14.

Noin has been a bright spot for the Blue Devils, leading the team in scoring in several contests. She scored 18 points at Dartmouth on Dec. 5 and added 16 points and four assists in a close loss to New Hampshire on Dec. 17.

Despite their record, the Blue Devils have shown flashes, pushing New Hampshire to a three-point game. They will need a similar effort and likely their best defensive performance of the season to contain a Sharks offense that exploded for 87 points last time out.

For Long Island, the game represents an opportunity to climb above .500 and establish a winning streak before Northeast Conference play intensifies. For Central Connecticut, it is a chance to finally break through and find a positive result at home.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Friday. The teams will meet again in Brooklyn on Jan. 31.