BOX SCORE SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The University of New Haven women's basketball team erased a 14-point deficit to take a lead early in the second half at Le Moyne, but the Dolphins made the game's final run to claim a 71-63 decision on Tuesday in upstate New York.
 
With the loss, the Chargers fall to 15-8 overall and 10-7 in the Northeast-10. Le Moyne, which officially clinched an NE-10 postseason berth alongside New Haven in the Southwest Division, improves to 13-10 on the season and 9-8 in conference action.
 
Aquillin Hayes (Harlem, N.Y./Wings Academy) led the Chargers with her third consecutive double-double – 15 points and 13 rebounds. The reigning Northeast-10 Player of the Week shot 7-for-14 from the field and 1-for-2 from the free throw line. Jasmine Gibson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Spring Valley) registered all of her career-high 11 points in the second half coming off of the New Haven bench.
 
Bria Moore (West Haven, Conn./Hill Regional Career) added nine point for the Chargers, who collectively shot 24-for-60 (40 percent) from the floor, 2-for-11 (18.2 percent) from three-point range and 13-for-17 (76.5 percent) from the free throw line. Elizabeth Cruso (Westerly, R.I./Westerly) notched seven points, while Rykema Stone (Bronx, N.Y./Wings Academy) and Briana Bradford (Waterbury, Conn./Holy Cross) each contributed six.
 
The Chargers were edged, 39-37, on the boards and committed 13 turnovers while forcing 11 Le Moyne miscues.
 
Emily Greer led four Dolphins scoring in double figures with 19 points to go along with 13 rebounds.
 
Le Moyne opened up an early 15-5 lead as New Haven connected on just two of its first 11 attempts from the field. The Dolphins extended the margin to 14 points, 23-9, at the 8:54 mark of the first half before a Bradford jumper, Hayes layup and Cunningham jumper marked the Chargers' first run of the afternoon. The Blue and Gold cut further into the lead as Hayes accounted for the last six tallies of the period to send New Haven into the locker room trailing by just one point at 31-30.
 
The Dolphins reopened a five-point cushion to begin the second half, before an Ayana Duncanson (Elmont, N.Y./Francis Lewis) bucket and four straight free throws from Moore brought the Chargers all the way back into the lead at 41-40 with 13:59 to play. The next run went to Le Moyne, as the hosts put together a 15-4 stretch over a span of 5:13 to rebuild a double-digit advantage at 57-46.
 
Gibson came off the bench and provided as spark with 11 points down the stretch as New Haven looked to manufacture another comeback, but the Dolphins shot 12-for-14 from the stripe over the final 6:10 of the contest to seal the 71-63 victory.
 
The stretch run of the regular season continues at Charger Gymnasium on Saturday, Feb. 15 with a 3:30 p.m. visit from Pace. All of the action against the Setters will be broadcast live in high definition and free of charge on NewHavenChargers.com.