THE BASICS:
 
RESULT: Hartford 68, Central Connecticut 52
RECORDS: Hartford (5-4); CCSU (0-8)
LOCATION: Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion (West Hartford, Conn.)
PHOTO GALLERY
 
THE LEAD:
 
A dominant effort on both ends of the court led the University of Hartford women's basketball team to a commanding, 68-52 win against local foe Central Connecticut State on Wednesday. Senior Janelle Harrison scored a season high 19 points for the Hawks, who won for the fourth time in five games.
 
Classmate Darby Lee and junior Alexia Douglas, who had 15 and 12 points, respectively, joined Harrison in double figures. CCSU, which was held to 28.6 shooting from the field, was led by a 13-point effort from Morgan Johnson.


 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• A well-balanced attack in the first half allowed the Hawks to jump out to a 40-24 lead at the break. Eight different players recorded at least one point in the opening half, led by 13 from Harrison.
• Harrison made each of her first five shots in the game's first 6:30 to help Hartford build the early advantage at 16-11. Her final bucket of the quarter sparked a 9-0 run that gave the Hawks a 23-11 lead heading into the second stanza.
• The momentum continued into the second quarter, as Hartford scored 10 of the first 13 points to push the lead to 20 (33-13) with 6:17 left in the half. A four-point play from Kiana Patterson followed by four points from the charity stripe allowed CCSU to close the gap to 13, but Douglas ended the half with a three-pointer to put Hartford in front by 16 at the break.
• A cold start by the Hawks allowed the Blue Devils to cut into their deficit. CCSU pulled within 10 with 3:55 to go in the third, but Hartford turned things around and pushed the lead back to 20 behind a 12-2 run. Harrison contributed six of her points to that rally.
• Hartford opened the final stanza with a 7-0 run to take its largest lead of the game – a 24-point advantage at 61-37 – with 6:03 to go. CCSU responded with six unanswered points, but the Hawks' advantage was too large for the Blue Devils to mount a comeback.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Half of Hartford's season-best 40 points in the first half came off of CCSU's miscues. The Hawks forced 15 turnovers in the first half alone.
• The Blue Devils finished the game with 20 turnovers, marking the fifth time this season that a Hartford opponent records 20 or more miscues.
• All of CCSU's 24 first-half points came from behind the arc or from the free-throw line. The Blue Devils knocked down five triples in that opening stretch and went on to finish the game with seven.
• Hartford's bench produced 22 points, led by Douglas' 12. Freshman Jade Young and senior Mary Pattison each contributed five points off the bench.
• Hartford finished the game shooting 41.8 percent from the field, going 28-of-68. The Hawks struggled to convert from the free-throw line, though, making 8-of-17 for 47.1 percent.
• The Hawks outrebounded the Blue Devils, 45-36, including a 19-11 edge on offensive glass.
• Junior Lindsey Abed matched a career high in rebounding, pulling down a game-best 11 rebounds. She also led all players with seven assists.

 
NEXT ON TAP:
The Hawks hit the road for Smithfield, R.I., to take on Bryant on Sunday at 1 p.m.