WALTHAM, Mass. – For the first time in nearly three decades and only the fourth time in program history, the University of New Haven women's basketball team defeated Bentley 78-54 Wednesday night at the Dana Center. The win also breaks a streak of 17 straight games the Falcons in the series.
 
New Haven improves to 14-3 overall and 8-3 in the Northeast-10 Conference. The Falcons drop to 7-11 overall and 2-10 in conference action.
 
Four Chargers scored in double figured, led by a game-high 22 from senior Aquillin Hayes (Harlem, N.Y./Wings Academy). She shot 10-of-16 from the floor and 2-2 at the line, while adding seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal to her statline. Lauren Hebert (North Reading, Mass./North Reading), India Dotson (Akron, Ohio/Frederick (Md.) / Monmouth University) and Ashley LeBlanc (Methuen, Mass./Methuen) contributed 11, 10 and 10 points, respectively. In her first start at UNH, Dotson also finished with seven rebounds, a block, an assist and a steal. Bria Moore (West Haven, Conn./Hill Regional Career) also played well all-around with eight points, nine rebounds, five steals and a pair of rejections.
 
As a team, the Chargers shot 54.7 percent (35-64) from the floor, the second best this season. UNH also out-rebounded the Falcons 48-31 and came one shy of a season-high with eight blocked shots. The Chargers took advantage of 14 offensive rebounds to score 22 second-chance points and score 12 points in transition.
 
Bentley was led by Jen Gemma with 18 points, while Lauren Green added 15 tallies.
 
Bentley played its way to a 14-12 lead at the 12:56 mark, but the Chargers were sparked by a Hayes jumper and quickly took control of the first half. Hayes scored eight during a 24-5 New Haven run, as the Chargers took a 36-19 lead at the 5:16 mark. The Chargers continued its run through the final minutes and ended the half on a 34-10 run with a 46-24 lead.
 
The Chargers shot 65.6 percent from the floor (21-32) and 57.1 percent from three-point range (4-7).
 
New Haven improved its lead to 24 at the 18:34 mark of the second half, but the Falcons rallied with a 13-2 in the first five minutes of the stanza to cut the Chargers lead to 50-37. UNH took control over the next five minutes and again pushed its lead beyond 20 with a jumper from Hebert with 10:19 on the clock. New Haven's lead grew to 27 with 1:02 left before earning the victory by the final score.
 
New Haven returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 24 when it hosts nationally-ranked No. 7/5 Stonehill at Charger Gymnasium. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.