WEST HAVEN, Conn. - #Aqullin Hayes# launched a half court buzzer-beater to send the nationally-ranked No. 20 University of New Haven women's basketball team into overtime and eventually to a 79-76 win over Saint Rose at Charger Gymnasium. After trailing for nearly the entire second half, Hayes' shot (watch video) tied the game for the first time in the final 19 minutes of the second half.

In overtime, New Haven held a 74-67 lead with 35 seconds left, but the Golden Knights rallied and converted shots to come within one, 77-76, just 26 seconds later. Rykema Stone (Bronx, N.Y./Wings Academy) hit a pair of free throws with six seconds left, to put the Chargers ahead by three. Saint Rose rushed the ball down the court and a wide open three-point attempt bouced off the rim and out as time expired.

The Chargers improve to 19-3 overall and 13-3 in the Northeast-10 Conference. The Golden Knights fall to 10-12 overall and 6-10 in conference play.
 
Hayes led the Chargers in scoring with a career-high 29 points. She added 11 rebounds and three assists as well. Briana Bradford (Waterbury, Conn./Holy Cross) pitching in 16 points, while Stone finished with nine points and 11 rebounds. Ashley LeBlanc (Methuen, Mass./Methuen) registered six points and eight rebounds and Elizabeth Cruso (Westerly, R.I./Westerly) chipped in eight points.

Jamie Hutcheson and Gabie Polce led Saint Rose with 20 and 21 points, respectively.
 
The Chargers jumped out to an early 10-2 lead over the Golden Knights with buckets coming from Hayes, Cruso and LeBlanc. Staci Barrett led the comeback for the Golden Knights who cut the deficit to three before a Sarah Illingworth three-pointer evened the game at 20. Despite tallies from Hutcheson and Barrett, New Haven led 27-24 after the first 20 minutes.
 
Saint Rose knocked down the first basket of the second half to tie it at 27-27 and later went on an 8-2 run but to go ahead 43-32 at the 14:09 mark. A LeBlanc layup stopped the rally and the Chargers began to rally from as many as 12 points behind. Small rallies brought New Haven within one at the 1:00 mark and a pair of free throws with three seconds left put Saint Rose ahead 63-60. After inbounding the ball to Sade King (Mount Vernon, N.Y./Mount Vernon / Hampton University), Hayes got the pass back and hurled the game-tying shot from the half court line.
 
The Blue and Gold scored a quick four points and jumped out to a 69-65 lead in the early minutes of overtime. The Chargers held on to the lead for the entire extra period, while Saint Rose mounted a pair of attempts in the final 30-seconds.
 
The Chargers are back in action on Tuesday, Feb. 10 when the Le Moyne Dolphins visit Charger Gymnasum. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.