NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Led by five players in double figures, the nationally-ranked No. 20 University of New Haven women's basketball defeated Southern Connecticut State 82-75 Wednesday night at Moore Field House. Briana Bradford (Waterbury, Conn./Holy Cross) scored a team-high 15 points, while Ashley LeBlanc (Methuen, Mass./Methuen) recorded her second consecutive and third double-double this season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Chargers improve to 18-3 overall and 12-3 in the Northeast-10 Conference. The Owls fall to 12-10 overall and 9-5 in conference play.

The victory marked the third straight game the UNH has been powered by five players in double-figures. Aquillin Hayes (Harlem, N.Y./Wings Academy) netted 14 points with eight rebounds and three assists. Bria Moore (West Haven, Conn./Hill Regional Career) chipped in with 11 points, while Elizabeth Cruso (Westerly, R.I./Westerly) finished with 10.

Southern Connecticut State's Jackie Beathea led all players with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

New Haven shot 43.1 percent from the floor, 55.6 percent from three-point territory and 77.8 percent from the charity stripe. The Chargers out-rebounded the Owls 47-39, including a 28-21 advantage on the defensive glass.

New Haven jumped out to an early 10-4 lead, but the Owls crawled back with a 7-1 run to tie the game at 11-11 at the 13:58 mark. The teams exchanged the lead before SCSU took control and pulled ahead 24-15 after a 12-0 run. The momentum swing back in favor of the Blue and Gold as the Chargers regained the lead with an old fashion three-point play from Bradford with 7:04 on the clock. In the final five minutes of the first half, New Haven led by as many as three, but took a 36-35 advantage into the locker room.

The Chargers took control in the first five minutes of the second half and led 44-37 with 3:37 gone in the period. UNH held the lead for the entire second half, but the Owls tied the game at 75-75 with 1:12 left. The Blue and Gold then connected on 7-of-8 free throw attempts and played shutdown defense in the closing seconds to secure its fifth-straight victory.

New Haven returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 7 when it hosts Saint Rose at Charger Gymnasium. The opening tip is slated for 3:30 p.m.