SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The University of New Haven women's basketball opened up its Northeast-10 Conference schedule with a 65-62 victory at Le Moyne on Wednesday evening. Aquillin Hayes (Harlem, N.Y./Wings Academy) controlled the action for the Chargers with 24 points, 16 rebounds and seven blocked shots.

With the win, New Haven improves to 3-0 for the second consecutive season and begins NE-10 Southwest Division play at 1-0. The host Dolphins drop to 2-1 with an 0-1 conference and divisional mark.
 
Hayes' output was her third 20-point, 10-rebound showing to open the 2014-15 season.  Lauren Hebert (North Reading, Mass./North Reading) joined her in double figures with 12 points off the bench, including a pair of three pointers. Sade King (Mount Vernon, N.Y./Mount Vernon / Hampton University) was also strong in a reserve role with nine tallies sparked by two from downtown.
 
Briana Bradford (Waterbury, Conn./Holy Cross) added eight points for the Chargers, who shot 19-of-54 (35.2 percent) from the field, 4-of-11 (36.4 percent) from three-point range and 23-of-31 (74.2 percent) from the free throw line. Rounding out the scoring for the Blue and Gold were Ashley LeBlanc (Methuen, Mass./Methuen) with six points, Bria Moore (West Haven, Conn./Hill Regional Career) with four and Rykema Stone (Bronx, N.Y./Wings Academy) with two.
 
Hayes' 16 rebounds powered New Haven to a 51-42 advantage on the glass. LeBlanc collected eight caroms, while Stone and Hebert nabbed seven apiece.
 
Three players netted double figures for Le Moyne, as Emily Greer and Maddie Hahesy each scored 12 points and Alex Marple added 11. The Dolphins shot 21-of-66 (31.8 percent) from the floor with a 4-of-14 (28.6 percent) performance from distance and a 16-of-26 (61.5 percent) day from the stripe.
 
After ceding the first four points of the game, the Chargers rattled off nine straight to claim an early 9-4 edge. The five-point cushion held through the midway point of the opening half before a Tessa Pucello put-back and a Lauren Salzbrenner trey knotted the contest at 13-13. At that juncture, seven King points highlighted a 15-1 stretch over the ensuing 3:28 as the Blue and Gold opened up a 28-14 lead with three minutes to go in the half. The Dolphins would slim the margin to eight in the closing moments of the frame, as New Haven took a 30-22 lead into the locker room.
 
The Chargers came out of the intermission with a Hayes bucket to reclaim a double-digit edge, and the visitors soon led by a 41-30 count with 15:08 to play. From that point, the host Dolphins surged with a 19-6 run during a span of 7:39 that saw New Haven playing from behind for the first time since the game's opening minutes.
 
The deficit was short-lived, however, as Hayes answered with a layup on the next Charger possession. The squads traded baskets at that point, settling at a 55-54 lead for the Dolphins with 3:41 remaining. Once again, it was Hayes bringing the Blue and Gold back in front. The senior converted a layup on the next trip, then came up with a steal and sank a free throw to stake New Haven to a 57-55 edge.
 
After a Marple free throw shaved the lead to 57-56, the momentum swung back to the Chargers as Hebert knocked down a three-pointer and drew the foul. Hebert completed the four-point play at the stripe to extend the New Haven advantage to 61-56 with 2:29 left. The Blue and Gold would sink five of their final seven free throws to seal the 65-62 road victory.
 
New Haven concludes its season-opening road swing and continues NE-10 Southwest Division action on Saturday, Nov. 22 with a 1:30 p.m. trip to Pace. The Blue and Gold take the court at Charger Gymnasium for the first time with a visit from American International on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 5:30 p.m.