Claire Murdoch’s goal, 3 assists lead UConn women’s hockey past Maine
Claire Murdoch had a goal and three assists as six different players scored as the UConn women’s hockey team opened postseason play with a 6-1 win over Maine in a Hockey East quarterfinal at Toscano Family Ice Forum on Saturday.
UConn advances to play an opponent to be determined in the semifinals on Tuesday.
Christina Walker opened the scoring for the Huskies (25-8-2) with a goal at 15:13 of the first period. Kyla Josifovic netted what turned out to be the game-winner just minutes later, at 17:22. Livvy Dewar and Julia Pellerin each scored in the second period, and Murdoch and Megan Woodworth added goals in the third.
Isabelle Michaud spoiled Tia Chan’s shutout bid, scoring the Black Bears’ lone goal at 13:23 of the third. Chan, the recently named Hockey East Goalie of the Year, had 20 saves.
Men’s basketball
Central Connecticut State 69, Saint Francis 64: At New Britain, Darin Smith Jr.’s 22 points helped the Blue Devils win their regular-season finale. Smith added seven rebounds for CCSU (18-11, 12-6 Northeast Cnoference). Melo Sanchez scored 13 points while shooting 6 for 13, including 1 for 6 from beyond the arc, and added three steals. Max Frazier had 10 points and finished 5 of 8 from the floor.
Chris Moncrief led the Red Flash (7-24, 5-13) in scoring, finishing with 16 points. Skylar Wicks added 13 points, six assists and two steals for Saint Francis. Gestin Liberis finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds. The NEC Tournament begins Wednesday at campus sites. Central Connecticut is the No. 2 seed behind Long Island and will host No. 7 Wagner in an NEC quarterfinal on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Wesleyan 50, Bates 36: At Middletown, Ben Lyttle led the way with 11 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two blocks as the top-seeded Cardinals advanced to the NESCAC championship game. Wesleyan (21-5) and host of the conference semifinals, advances to face No. 3 Trinity in the championship game on Sunday at noon at Wesleyan.
Trinity 80, Tufts 70: At Middletown, Henry Vetter and Drew Lazarre each scored 16 points to lead the No. 3 seed Bantams to the NESCAC semifinal win over No. 2 Tufts. Trinity (21-4), will face host Wesleyan for the conference championship.
New Haven 66, Le Moyne 59: At West Haven, Jabri Fitzpatrick had 28, five rebounds and eight assists for the Chargers (14-17, 9-9 Northeast Conference). Najimi George scored 15 points while going 5 of 8 from the floor, including 1 for 4 from 3-point range, and 4 for 5 from the line. Andre Pasha shot 5 for 12, including 3 for 7 from beyond the arc to finish with 13 points, while adding nine rebounds.
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