New Haven vs. Saint Michael's
Friday, Dec. 20 – 6 p.m.
West Haven, Conn. – Charger Gymnasium
Live Video | Live Stats
 
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
 
Opening Tip
Following 12 days away from the court, the University of New Haven women's basketball team continues the 2013-14 campaign with a non-conference visit from Northeast-10 foe Saint Michael's. The Chargers and Purple Knights will meet as a part of the NE-10 slate on Jan. 14 in Colchester.
 
Last Time Out
Unbeaten Adelphi escaped Charger Gymnasium with an 84-81 decision on Dec. 7. The Panthers have since entered the USA Today Sports Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll at No. 18 with an unblemished 10-0 record.
 
Bria Moore led the Chargers with season-high 20 points as well as eight rebounds and four assists. Moore has scored in double figures in five consecutive games and seven times overall this winter.
 
In total, four Chargers reached double figures as Briana Bradford netted 14 points, Audrey Cunningham scored 11 off the bench and Aquillin Hayes added 10. Hayes and Ayana Duncanson each collected seven rebounds.
 
New Haven outrebounded the Panthers, 40-34, and scored 15 second-chance points off of 12 offensive boards. The Chargers committed 19 turnovers which led to 24 Adelphi points while turning 12 Panthers' giveaway into 16 points of their own.
 
The Chargers shot 60 percent (9-15) from three-point range, led by three treys apiece from Bradford and Cunningham. Moore knocked down back-to-back triples in the second half as New Haven erased a 75-69 deficit in the final four minutes. Cunningham's final three-ball of the afternoon pulled the Chargers within one, 81-80, with 56 seconds to play.
 
Adelphi made three free throws in the final 44 seconds and a last-second three-pointer fell short as the Panthers held off New Haven for the one-possession victory.
 
New Haven Notes
Aquillin Hayes has recorded four double-doubles this season after notching a team-best seven double-doubles in 2012-13. Hayes averages 10.8 points and a Northeast-10-leading 11.8 rebounds per game.
 
Including the November overtime contest at No. 17 Rollins, Hayes has two career games with at least 20 rebounds. She hauled in 21 boards to go along with 12 points and eight blocks in a win over Le Moyne last winter. That effort on the glass was the best by a Charger since Joy Jeter had 23 rebounds against Keene State on Jan. 23, 1988. A New Haven Athletics Hall of Famer, three-time All-America honoree and the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player for the 1987 National Championship team, Jeter is New Haven's all-time leader in both career points (2,299) and career rebounds (1,486).
 
This season, Briana Bradford has surpassed 20 points in three of the six games she has played en route to a team-high 17.3 points per contest. She is shooting 30-for-59 (50.8 percent) from the floor, 15-for-29 (51.7 percent) from three-point range and 29-for-33 (87.9 percent) from the free throw line. Bradford scored a career-high 24 points with five three-pointers in the Nov. 13 win over Saint Rose. She also drained five from beyond the arc en route to 21 points in the conference win at Pace on Nov. 23.
 
Bria Moore has scored in double figures in seven games this winter, including 20 points on Dec. 7 against Adelphi. She averages 12.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest and has provided a spark from long range, shooting 16-for-34 (47.1 percent).
 
Two of the breakout performers throughout the season have been Elizabeth Cruso and Rykema Stone. Cruso is averaging 7.1 points per game from the perimeter, while Stone has contributed down low with 8.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest.
 
The Chargers have knocked down eight or more three-pointers in four games this season, including 10 treys in the Nov. 13 win over Saint Rose. Following a 9-for-15 showing on Dec. 7 against Adelphi, the Blue and Gold have connected on 53-of-125 attempts (42.4 percent) from beyond the arc.
 
The three teams that have defeated the Chargers this winter (American International, Rollins, Adelphi) are a combined 26-5. Additionally, the Tars and Panthers are both currently in the USA Today Sports Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll at No. 16 and No. 18, respectively.
 
The Chargers' 4-0 start was the first for the program since the 1989-90 team won its first six outings. The Blue and Gold also began at 3-0 in the conference for the first time since 2009-10.
 
Prior to the season-opening win at Dominican and the Nov. 30 loss at Rollins, New Haven last played an overtime game on Jan. 2, 2011 at crosstown and Northeast-10 rival Southern Connecticut State (L, 60-54). The Chargers last won in an extra session prior to this season on Jan. 26, 2010 at Southern New Hampshire (W, 67-65).
 
The Nov. 29 win over Davis & Elkins was the first New Haven victory outside of the East Region since a 72-67 win at Lynn in Boca Raton, Fla. on Dec. 20, 2009.
 
Up Next
The Chargers resume Northeast-10 action this Sunday, Dec. 22 with a short trip to crosstown and divisional rival Southern Connecticut State. Tip-off from Moore Field House is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.