Gaziano Propels Brown Women’s Basketball Past CCSU in Season Opener, 68-63

Tuesday, November 6

Providence, R.I.

7:00 PM

Brown University

1-0

Central Connecticut State

0-1

Central Conn. St.

Brown

Gaziano Propels Brown Women’s Basketball Past CCSU in Season Opener, 68-63

11/6/2018 10:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Mehta Posts Eighth Career Double-Double

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Junior guard Justine Gaziano scored a game-high 27 points, senior guard Shayna Mehta posted a double-double on 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Brown University women's basketball defeated Central Connecticut State University, 68-63, on Tuesday night at the Pizzitola Sports Center.

In the season opener for both teams, the Bears (1-0) used a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter to gain a 62-55 lead with 3:32 to play and did not trail the visiting Blue Devils (0-1) the rest of the way.

"We are a work in progress," Brown head coach Sarah Behn said. "For Taylor Will it was her first game since December, but she did some unbelievable things on defense for us to pull ahead. We didn't shoot as well as we can, but I think that we are getting there. I'm really happy to get this one under our belt because I think we can build from this."

Gaziano (Natick, Mass.) netted her 27 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field and added eight rebounds – eclipsing her season high from last season – and three steals. She scored over 20 points for the 20^th time in her career and finished in double figures for the 45^th time.

Mehta (San Francisco, Calif.) notched her eighth career double-double with her 16 points and 10 boards, while chipping in four steals and three assists. She moved into seventh place on Brown's all-time scoring list with 1,306 career points, passing Michele Smith '86 (1,291 points) and Lauren Clarke '14 (1,304 points).

Playing in her first game since sustaining a knee injury on Dec. 22, 2017, senior guard Taylor Will (Arlington Heights, Ill.) tallied nine points, a career-high seven steals, and four rebounds. Senior forward Mary Butler (Bangor, Maine) registered eight rebounds, five points, four assists, and three steals.

As a team, Brown made 21 steals – eclipsing their season high of 15 from last season – and forced the Blue Devils into 28 turnovers. The Bears outscored the Blue Devils, 41-30, in the second half and held a 23-16 advantage in points off turnovers for the game.

In the first quarter, the Bears used a 10-0 run to claim a 14-8 advantage late in the opening frame. Mehta scored six points during the run, including a pair of mid-range jumpers. Brown maintained a 14-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Gaziano scored the Bears' first eight points of the second quarter as Brown trailed CCSU 23-22 with 4:31 to go until halftime. A wing 3-pointer from Butler kept Brown within 28-27 with 2:32 left in the half, but the Blue Devils took a 33-27 advantage into the intermission.

Mehta and Gaziano combined to score Brown's first 13 points of the second half allowing the Bears to take a 40-39 edge with 4:23 to play in the third quarter. Gaziano capped the stretch with a wing 3-pointer. A layup from Will and a steal-and-score from Butler pushed Brown ahead 47-43 heading to the fourth quarter.

A driving layup from freshman guard Traiva Breedlove (Rochester, N.Y.) gave the Bears a 53-50 lead before CCSU regained a 55-53 edge with 5:58 to play. The Bears then scored nine unanswered points, including a steal-and-score from Will, to claim a 62-55 lead with 3:32 remaining. The Bears sank six free throws in the final 1:11 to seal the win.

For CCSU, Kiana Patterson scored a team-high 21 points, Ashley Berube contributed 10 points and nine rebounds, and Emma McCamus netted 10 points.

Next, Brown plays its first two road contests of the season at Bryant University on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7:00 p.m. (NEC Front Row) and at Boston University on Monday, Nov. 12 at 7:00 p.m. (Patriot League Network).

Video of all Brown women's basketball home contests and all Ivy League games, home and away, will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

Tickets for all Brown women's basketball games can be purchased online, by calling the Brown Athletics Ticket Office at (401) 863-2773, or by walking up to the box office located in the Pizzitola Sports Center, open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.