PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The University of New Haven women's basketball team (7-18, 5-13 NE10) dropped a 75-52 decision on the road at Pace on Saturday afternoon. Leading the Chargers on the day was sophomore guard Allieyah Cubbage (North Plainfield, N.J./Roselle Catholic) who finished with 14 points for her second double figure game of the season against the Setters.

Joining her in leading the offense was juniors Khayla Trowell (Temple Hills, Md./Elizabeth Seton Catholic) and Quanna Smith who finished with 10 and nine points, respectively. Sophomore Alexandria Kerr (Montclair, N.J./Montclair) and freshman Micah Wormack (Cumberland, Md./Allegany) each chipped in seven points, while overall seven different players contributed on the offensive end for New Haven.

As a team, the Chargers finished game shooting 26.9 percent from the field, making 18-of-67 attempts with two of them outside the three point arc. Both three pointers on the afternoon came off the fingertips of Smith. The Blue and Gold also finished the day connecting on 14-of-20 attempts at the free throw line. Individually, Trowell and Smith led the shooting efforts as each finished with a 3-of-8 performance from the field, while Smith's two three pointers came in four attempts.

New Haven did finish the day with a 50-43 advantage on the boards again led by Cubbage who finished one rebound shy of a double double with nine boards. Kerr followed her with eight rebounds, while Trowell and Wormack each finished with seven.

FIRST HALF NOTES

·         New Haven opened up the game on a 6-1 run with Cubbage providing four of those first six points on a jumper and a perfect 2-for-2 effort at the free throw line. Kerr provided the other two points while that run for the Chargers took just 2:20 off the clock.

·         The Setters then turned up the defensive pressure to hold the Chargers with just two field goals the remainder of the opening quarter, outscoring New Haven 21-5 to close out the first quarter with a 22-11 lead.

·         Overall, Cubbage's four early points led five different New Haven scorers in the first quarter as she finished 1-of-4 from the field and 2-of-2 at the line.

·         Just over a minute into the second quarter, the Blue and Gold strung together another run, this time a 7-2 advantage that spanned just under four minutes and cut the Setters lead into single digit for the first time since late in the first quarter. Smith capped off the run for New Haven with the Chargers first three pointer of the game, while made the deficit nine, 27-18.

·         The Setters responded to Smith's three pointer by rattling off eight straight unanswered points to open up the largest lead of the game, 35-18. Trowell ended that rally for Pace when she scored off an offensive board for the second chance opportunity.

·         Trowell would also net the final two points of the half for New Haven as the Chargers took a 40-22 deficit into the locker room at the break. Trowell led the way in the scoring column for New Haven with seven points in the opening half, six of which came in the second quarter. Just behind her in leading the way was Cubbage with six points.

·         As a team, New Haven finished the first half shooting 23.5 percent with eight field goals in 34 attempts, one of which came from outside the arc. New Haven also finished 5-of-6 at the free throw line while leading the battle of the boards with a 26-21 margin led by Kerr who finished with six total, three on each end of the floor.

SECOND HALF NOTES

·         The Chargers again came out of the gates on a run, this time scoring eight of the first 11 points of the second half over a 3:40 stretch. In that early streak, New Haven finished a perfect 4-of-4 from the field after missing its first field goal of the half. Overall, Cubbage scored six of those first eight points for the Blue and Gold, pushing her into double digits with a dozen.

·         Pace responded to that early New Haven run with one of their own, scoring 10 of the next 11 points in just over two minutes of action with a layup from Wormack off a feed from Cubbage ending the drought for New Haven.

·         Defensively, New Haven held the Setters to just one field goal over the final three minutes of the third quarter as they scored two of the final three baskets, trailing 60-39 at the intermission. Trowell and Smith each scored one of those field goals for New Haven.

·         Smith would again hit from outside for the Chargers first bucket of the fourth quarter, just the second three pointer of the game for the visitors. However, New Haven was unable to muster another rally as the Setters maintained the advantage throughout.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·         The 14 points for Cubbage was her ninth time this season scoring in double figures, while she closed out the home-and-home series against the Setters averaging 13.5 points, including 13 points as part of her first double double of the season back on December 4 at Charger Gym.

·         The 50-44 advantage on the boards for the Chargers was the 12th time this season New Haven has outrebounded its opponent. Additionally, the Blue and Gold has outrebounded seven of their last 10 opponents.

NEXT ON TAP
New Haven closes the regular season with a date against the Le Moyne Dolphins in Syracuse, N.Y. on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Tipoff from Ted Grant Court is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.