MANCHESTER, N.H. – The University of New haven women's basketball team used a strong defensive effort, forcing 27 Saint Anselm turnovers as the Chargers downed the Hawks 65-40 in a non-conference matchup on Thursday afternoon.
 
With the win, New Haven is now 6-5. The Hawks fall to 6-4.
 
In addition to forcing 27 turnovers, the Chargers held Saint Anselm 27 points under its per game scoring average for the season and did not allow a three-pointer in the game.
 
Briana Bradford (Waterbury, Conn./Holy Cross) led New Haven with 18 points, her 11th consecutive double-figure scoring game. Alexandria Kerr (Montclair, N.J./Montclair) had 16 points, shooting 7-for-9 from the field. India Dotson (Akron, Ohio/Frederick (Md.) / Monmouth University) set career highs in the contest with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
 
New Haven jumped out to an early lead, going up 14-8 at the end of the first period with Bradford and Lauren Hebert (North Reading, Mass./North Reading) netting six points apiece. The lead extended in the second frame as Dotson stepped up, scoring 10 points and pulling in six rebounds for the stanza as the Chargers took a 32-20 lead into halftime.
 
After the two teams played an even third quarter, the Blue and Gold put the game away in the fourth, opening the period on a 11-0 run to open a 58-36 lead with 5:33. Kerr led the charge netting seven points in the span.
 
The Chargers return to action with a Northeast-10 Conference game at American International on Saturday, Jan. 2. Tipoff at Butova Gymnasium in Springfield, Mass. is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.