BOX SCORE WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven women’s basketball team led No. 23 nationally-ranked Stonehill for all but 1:41 of Wednesday’s Northeast-10 outing at Charger Gymnasium, but the Skyhawks only lead of the evening proved decisive in a 73-70 contest. Ashley LeBlanc recorded a double-double with 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
 
With the loss, New Haven falls to 6-6 with a 5-3 Northeast-10 mark. The Skyhawks improve to 11-1 on the season and 7-1 in conference action.
 
LeBlanc shared the team high in scoring with Bria Moore, whose 12 points came courtesy of a 4-for-9 day from the field and a 4-for-6 showing at the free throw line. Anh-Dao Tran had 11 points and a game-high seven assists. She knocked down three three-pointers to move into fifth place all-time at New Haven with 95 career treys. Lauren Hebert was the fourth Charger to net double figures with 10 points off the bench.

Collectively, New Haven shot 27-for-67 (40.3 percent) from the floor, 7-for-19 (36.8 percent) from three-point range and 9-for-14 (64.3 percent) from the free throw line.
 
Aquillin Hayes had nine rebounds to go along with eight points, as the Chargers outrebounded Stonehill, 45-34. The Skyhawks won the turnover battle, 14-11.
 
Jamie Panton led all scorers with 22 points for Stonehill.
 
Hayes scored the first bucket of the game just 29 seconds in, giving the Chargers a lead that would not be relinquished until just 1:12 remained in the second half. The Chargers would build an 8-2 advantage and later ran off 13 in a row to claim a 28-11 cushion with 8:40 to go in the half. The margin grew as large as 18 points and stood at 44-31 – thanks to a Moore buzzer beater – at the intermission.
 
The advantage remained in double figures to a 63-49 tally at the 11:58 mark at which point the Skyhawks scored the next 10 to trim the margin to four points. A triple from Tran and a Moore layup gave the Chargers a nine-point edge. However, New Haven would not score from the field over the final 5:35 as Stonehill finished the game on a 14-2 run.
 
The Chargers were not without opportunities however, trailing 72-70 with possession and 26.9 seconds to go. Moore had a good look from the corner that wouldn’t fall, nor did Hayes’ putback attempt. The Skyhawks tacked on a late free throw and the Chargers could only muster a desperation heave in the closing seconds of a 73-70 defeat.
 
Tonight’s game was a part of the Chargers’ “Class at the Court” initiative. Over 450 fourth graders from the greater West Haven community were on campus this morning to participate in several experiential learning sessions from New Haven faculty.
 
New Haven begins a two-game Northeast-10 road swing on Saturday, Jan. 12 at Merrimack at 1 p.m. The Chargers will also visit Franklin Pierce on Tuesday, Jan. 15 before returning to Charger Gymnasium to meet Southern New Hampshire next Saturday, Jan. 19.