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Women's Basketball

Women's Basketball Falls in Defensive Battle at No. 17 Rollins, 55-50

BOX SCORE WINTER PARK, Fla. - For the second time in her career Aquillin Hayes (Harlem, N.Y./Wings Academy) grabbed 20 rebounds, but the University of New Haven women's basketball team was on the losing end of a 55-50 overtime showdown at No. 17 Rollins in the Tars' Thanksgiving Tournament championship game. Hayes led the defensive battle with a game-high 17 points and 20 boards.

The Chargers drop to 5-2 on the season, while the nationally-ranked Tars improve to 7-1.

Hayes went 7-of-18 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the line to gain her 17 points. More impressively, the Harlem, N.Y. native grabbed 14 defensive boards and six on the offensive end. It was her second 20-rebound performance in as many seasons with her last time coming against Le Moyne on February 16, 2013. The only other 20-rebound performance on record is Joy Jeter who recorded 22 in 1989.

Bria Moore (West Haven, Conn./Hill Regional Career) added 13 points on 5-of-9 and Rykema Stone (Bronx, N.Y./Wings Academy) posted 11 points. 

The Chargers shot 31.7 percent from the floor, but just 20 percent from three-point territory. Rollins connected on 30.2 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from long range. However, the Tars struggled at the free throw line, especially down the stretch, going just 11-of-25 or 44 percent from the charity stripe.

The Chargers rushed out to an early lead, and led for the entire first half. New Haven's lead was no larger than five as the Tars held close throughout the first stanza. At the 7:58 mark Rollins tied the game at 14-14 with a Tanaya Jones basket, it was the only tie of the half and the closest the Tars came to gaining the lead. Stone and Hayes helped UNH in a small 4-0 run, to take a 23-18 lead with 1:37 left in the half, but Rollins closed the period on a 3-1 run to close the halftime score to within three, 24-21.

In the first minute of the second half, Rollins scored five straight to take its first lead of the game at 26-24. Over the final 19 minutes, the back-and-forth scoring and defensive stands forced the lead to change hands nine times and the score to be tied six times. New Haven, looked in control with 5:00 left and a 41-37 lead, but the Tars never gave up. RC went on a 5-0 run and regained the lead with 2:32 left. At the 1:03 mark, Stone sunk a pair of free throws for a 45-44 UNH lead. With 48 seconds on the clock, Rollins' Jones stepped to the line for a pair and made just the first of two attempts to tie the game at 45-45. The Chargers turned the ball over when rebounding, but the Tars' shot rimmed out for New Haven's final possession with 16 seconds left. New Haven's shot attempt was blocked and time ran out in regulation.

The overtime was handled by Rollins. The Tars scored seven points of extra time and took a 52-45 lead off a Sarah Blackburn jumper with 2:02 left. UNH cut the lead to as few as three in the final minute, but Rollins held on for its fourth-straight victory.

The Chargers finished their southern trip with a 1-1 record and now return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 4 when they travel to east region opponent Dowling. Tipoff in Oakdale, N.Y. is set for 6 p.m.
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