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NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Senior Mayson Kimball scored a game-high 24 points, one of five different players to score in double figures for the Warriors, as the Merrimack College women's basketball team defeated Central Connecticut State University, 81-62, on Saturday afternoon at Hammel Court. The contest, which aired on ESPN+, saw the Warriors improve to 3-6 in Northeast Conference (NEC) while Central Connecticut fell to 3-8. Merrimack increased its winning streak to three games with the triumph.

With the score tied at 22 early in the second quarter, Merrimack closed the half on a 19-7 run to lead by 12, 41-29 at halftime. The Warriors then proceeded to score the first eight points of the third quarter, to create an advantage that proved to be insurmountable. Merrimack did not trail by fewer than 14 points over the remainder of the second half.

Kimball's 24 points came via an 8-of-18 shooting performance including a career-high tying five 3-pointers. Sophomore Jayme DeCesare filled up the stat sheet with 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists while senior Alyssa Casey nearly posted a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds.

The Basics
Score: Merrimack 81, Central Connecticut 62
Records: Merrimack (3-6, 3-6 NEC) | Central Connecticut (3-8, 3-8 NEC)
Location: North Andover, Mass. | Hammel Court

Rapid Recap

• Merrimack used a 9-0 run to turn a 5-4 deficit into a 13-5 lead six minutes into the afternoon. Kimball hit consecutive 3-pointers during the run while senior Autumn Truesdale converted a three-point play. After the Warriors led by as many as 11 points in the quarter, Central trimmed its deficit down to 20-14 after one quarter of action
• Once the scored was tied up at 22, junior Kate Mager enjoyed a strong second quarter to get Merrimack the lead back for good. Mager scored 10 points in the quarter in less than four minutes, hitting a 3-pointer at the 2:26 mark to put Merrimack up 36-26. Another trey from Kimball gave the Warriors a 41-29 edge at intermission
• Kimball, sophomore Alana Fursman, Casey and Mager accounted for the 8-0 stretch that started the third quarter for Merrimack. The Warriors' advantage grew to 20 for the first time, 55-35, at the 4:20 mark of the third quarter, and after a brief run from the visitors brought CCSU within 14, DeCesare scored the final four points of the third to keep Merrimack ahead, 64-46, entering the fourth
• Merrimack led by 21 points on four separate occasions in the final quarter, the largest margin the Warriors had on the night. DeCesare hit a triple with less than nine minutes remaining to give the hosts a 72-51 edge. Kimball scored her last points with 2:02 remaining and Casey capped the scoring with less than a minute to play

Notes and Numbers

• Kimball has now scored at least 20 points in two of her last three games. Over her last four, the senior is averaging 16.8 points per game on 26-of-51 shooting (.510)
• Fursman's 12 points were a season high, and the third most of the second-year forward's career. She also set season highs in field goals (5) and minutes (27)
• Casey narrowly missed out on her ninth career double-double. Four of the senior's nine boards came on the offensive glass
• DeCesare set season highs in points (13), free throws (8) and assists (7). She posted seven caroms for the second straight game, tying a career high. Her eight free throws were a career best, as well
• Merrimack dominated the glass, outrebounding Central 44-28. The Warriors also owned a 32-18 advantage in points in the paint
• On defense, Merrimack held CCSU to just 37 percent shooting, the second lowest it has held an opponent to this season

Up Next
Merrimack hosts Central Connecticut State University once more at Hammel Court tomorrow at 4 p.m.