Game Details: November 17 | 1:00 p.m.
Location: Charger Gym | West Haven, Conn.
Game Links: Watch Live | Live Stats
Twitter: @UNHChargers | @NewHavenWBB
New Haven Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Game Notes
Adelphi Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats

THE FIRST LOOK
After having its last game postponed due to Thursday's snow storm, the Chargers are eager to get back on the court when they open both the home portion of their schedule and the NE10 portion of the 2018-19 campaign hosting the Adelphi Panthers. New Haven enters Saturday's match-up looking for a third-straight win to remain unbeaten on the season while Adelphi is looking to build off the momentum of their first victory and even out their overall record at 2-2.

INSIDE THE ADELPHI SERIES

·         New Haven and Adelphi meet for the 43rd time in the history of the two programs

·         Overall, the Chargers hold a 25-17 advantage in the first 42 meetings, dating back to January 17, 1980 when New Haven opened up the series with a 55-52 win.

·         Last season the two teams split the series with each winning on its home court, most recently with the Chargers scoring a 58-44 decision in West Haven

·         The last time that New Haven swept the series over Adelphi was in the 2012-13 season with scores of 79-77 and 86-75.

SCOUTING THE CHARGERS
There's a new buzz around women's basketball at New Haven and it got a boost after the Chargers opened the season with a perfect 2-0 performance at the UB Conference Crossover Classic. Through the first two games, first year head coach Debbie Buff's squad is led by freshman Camryn DeBose (Wellington, Fla./Wellington Community) who averaged 17.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting at a staggering 56.5 percent in the first two games. DeBose opened up her collegiate career one point shy of a 20-point performance against Bridgeport. Following DeBose in leading the Chargers is senior Alexandria Kerr (Montclair, N.J./Montclair) and junior Micah Wormack (Cumberland, Md./Allegany) who are averaging 14.5 and 14.0 points per game. Much of the Chargers early success can be attributed to a stifling defense that limited Bridgeport to just 31 points and Post to 46 points, while the offense outscored the two opponents by 27 points per game. In addition, New Haven's defense forced 58 turnovers combined over the two games, while turning that into 50 points on the other side of the floor.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
After opening the season with back-to-back losses against NYIT and LIU Post, the Panthers put their first notch in the win column with a 57-52 win over the visiting Pace Setters in the NE10 opener. Leading the Panthers through its first three games is redshirt junior forward Leonie Edringer who is averaged 13.3 points, one of four players to sport a double digit average. The international athlete is shooting 47.1 percent from the field on the season and at 6-1 also leads the team with seven blocks, while pulling down 5.0 rebounds per game. Joining her in leading in the scoring column is senior guard Niajah Morgan and junior guard Fallyn Stephens who each average 11.7 ppg. Between the pair, Morgan is shooting better than 50% on the season, connecting on 15-of-29 field goal attempts. 

THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED
The last time the New Haven women's basketball team opened up its season victorious through two games was the 2014-15 season, the same year the Chargers made their most recent trip to the NCAA Elite Eight. Overall, New Haven closed out that season with a 26-6 record under head coach Ty Grace. That season was also the second straight year that New Haven started 2-0, while in the history of the program it has happened 10 times.

NEXT ON TAP
New Haven will take its show across the ocean when they next appear on the hardwood, that coming at the Puerto Rico Clasico in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico. Overall, the Chargers will play three games while in Puerto Rico, taking on Puerto Rico-Bayamon (Nov. 21, 3:00 p.m.), Upper Iowa (Nov. 22, 5:00 p.m.) and Central Oklahoma (3:00 p.m.). The trip to Puerto Rico is the first of its kind for the Chargers.

LAST TIME OUT
Behind a 20-point performance from Alexandria Kerr (Montclair, N.J./Montclair), the New Haven women's basketball team scored a 67-46 victory over Post, closing out the two-day Bridgeport Conference Crossover Classic with a perfect 2-0 record. Kerr's 20 points was part of three players in double figures, joined by freshman Camryn DeBose (Wellington, Fla./Wellington Community) (16 points) and Micah Wormack (Cumberland, Md./Allegany) (11 points). The Chargers defense remained a high point for the second straight game, forcing the Eagles into 31 turnovers, on top of 27 a day earlier against Bridgeport. Against Post, New Haven turned those 31 turnovers into 31 points, finishing with a 31-19 advantage in points off turnovers. Additionally, New Haven showed off its speed, owning a 14-4 advantage in fast break points. As a team, New Haven closed out its second game of the season with a 48.1 percent shooting average, connecting on 25-of-52 field goal attempts.

LAST TIME THEY MET
Three players finished in double digits as the women's basketball team held off Adelphi 58-44 at Charger Gymnasium. For the fourth-straight game, New Haven was led by Alexandria Kerr (Montclair, N.J./Montclair) who dropped a team-high 17 points on 40-percent shooting, her 11th game of the last 12 in double figures. Kerr also pulled down five rebounds and dished out a team-high three assists and four steals. A key player for the Chargers on the afternoon was Micah Wormack (Cumberland, Md./Allegany) who scored 16 points on 55-percent (6-of-11) shooting and also grabbed nine rebounds and had three steals. Brie Pergola (Torrington, Conn./Torrington) was the third-leading scorer with 11 points and also finished the game with two rebounds, two steals and two assists. Also playing a vital role in the Charger victory was Sianna Van Dyke (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) who corralled a career-high seven rebounds. As a team, New Haven shot 41-percent from the field, although the key to success was their defensive effort, holding Adelphi to 27-percent shooting and 3-of-24 from beyond the arc. The defense also stepped up to hold Adelphi to their lowest scoring output of the season.

FRESH FACES
The 2018-19 version of the Chargers features three new faces on the sideline for first year head coach Debbie Buff, while one player, Luzdali Ocasio (Davenport, Fla./New Hampton), will make her debut this season after suffering a season-ending injury in preseason last year. Two of the three will bolster the Chargers backcourt, while a native of the Sunshine State, Camryn DeBose (Wellington, Fla./Wellington Community) is the lone addition in the frontcourt. Kylie Schlottman (East Haven, Conn./East Haven) and Sydney Richard (Hooksett, N.H./Bradford Christian Academy) round out the rookie class.

·         Ocasio comes by way of New Hampton High School in New Hampton, N.H. She was named to the All-Tournament Team for the Nobles Holiday Tournament and was also named the Huskies Athlete of the Month once and was a 2015-16 All-Conference honoree. 

·         DeBose played four years at Wellington Community High School where she was a two-year captain. She averaged 10.7 points with over four assists and six rebounds per game and received the Hustle Award and Defensive Player of the Year honors three times.

·         Schlottman was a two-time SCC Player of the Year during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons while playing for East Haven High School. She holds the school record for points in a single game (40), season (513) and career (1,693) and also holds the all-time rebounds record (849). Tabbed New Haven Register Athlete of the Year in 2018 and was named to the USA Today All-USA Connecticut Girls Basketball Team following last season.

·         Richard was a three-year captain on the basketball team at Bradford Christian Academy where she was named the MVP during the 2017-18 season and earned All-Star honors following her junior and senior campaigns. She also led Bradford Christian to the NEPSAC title during the 2015-16 season.

RECORD WATCH
A pair of Chargers enter the 2018-19 campaign on the record watch; Alexandria Kerr (Montclair, N.J./Montclair) and Katia Oge (New City, N.Y./Immaculate Heart Academy). The newest member of the 1,000 point club, Kerr is 19th all-time at New Haven in scoring with 1,055 points and will quickly ascend the charts throughout her senior season. The next level-up for the guard comes with eight more points where she will pass Arnetha Eaddy (1981-85). Additionally, Kerr can keep an eye on the top-10 lists for field goals made (needs 170), three-point field goals made (needs 24), free throws made (needs 35) and rebounds (needs 182). Also paying attention to the record book is center Katia Oge (New City, N.Y./Immaculate Heart Academy) who is currently fifth in program history with 86 blocks. Based on her career output to-date, Oge will graduate third in program history. She currently needs six blocks to move into fourth all-time passing Sonja Beamon (1983-87).

STEERING THE SHIP
With 15 years of experience strolling the sidelines, Debbie Buff will make her debut as the Chargers head coach in 2018-19. Buff comes to West Haven following a seven-year stint at Wheeling Jesuit University, where she led the Cardinals to back-to-back Mountain East Conference Championships and Division II tournament appearances. Buff is no stranger to the NE10 having served as an Assistant Coach with the Saint Rose Golden Knights where she helped lead Saint Rose to the 2000 NCAA Division II Northeast Region Championship, a 34-1 record and a national ranking as high as No. 1 in the country. Along with Buff, two additional coaches will join the New Haven sideline for the first time this season; assistant coaches Steve Bower and Michelle Brandao.

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO
Two of the Chargers returning players are coming off award-winning seasons as senior guard Alexandria Kerr (Montclair, N.J./Montclair) was tabbed NE10 All-Conference Second Team and sophomore guard Brie Pergola (Torrington, Conn./Torrington) earned a spot on the NE10 All-Rookie Team. The first and second leading scorers last season, Kerr and Pergola were the only players to average in double figures at 16.5 and 10.5 ppg, respectively. Kerr also led the team with 171 rebounds (6.6 per game) and with 41 steals, while Pergola was the biggest playmaker last season, dishing out 58 assists. In addition to their postseason honors, both Kerr and Pergola received weekly credentials with Kerr named NE10 Player of the Week once and Pergola garnering NE10 Rookie of the Week distinction on three occasions.

THE SCHEDULE
First-year head coach Deborah Buff announced a 29-game slate for the 2018-19 University of New Haven women's basketball team. Included in the Chargers schedule are 12 home contests in the friendly confines of Charger Gymnasium and three in the Puerto Rico Clásico over Thanksgiving break.

·         Including a preseason exhibition against Division I A-10 member Rhode Island, New Haven's schedule consists of 30 dates.

·         Following its exhibition game against URI, the Chargers will tip-off the new season with the Bridgeport Conference Crossover Classic where they will take on the host Purple Knights and the Post Eagles in the two-day event.

·         Three of the Chargers 23 opponents are teams that advanced to NCAA postseason play in 2017-18, including the top-two seeds in the East Region; Stonehill and Bentley.

·         Among the 14 Northeast-10 Conference opponents, the Chargers will play its six divisional rivals twice including Adelphi, Southern Connecticut State, Saint Rose, Puriace, Le Moyne and American International.

·         New Haven will take its first long-distance trip in nine seasons when they travel to Puerto Rico over Thanksgiving Break. During the trip, the Chargers will participate in the Puerto Rico Clásico where they are scheduled to meet three teams for the first time in program history; Puerto Rico-Bayamon, Upper Iowa and Central Oklahoma.

·         Back in the northeast, New Haven distributes its six non-conference dates between two leagues. It will take on five teams from the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference; Post, Chestnut Hill, Nyack, Goldey-Beacom and Dominican, and one opponent from the ECC; Bridgeport.

SMART, NOT JUST ON THE COURT
Senior Alexandria Kerr (Montclair, N.J./Montclair) doesn't just come with basketball smarts, the guard is also very talented in the classroom where she was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team following the 2017-18 season. This award recognizes the best in their sport regionally with a grade point average of 3.30 or higher and each member of the first team is then eligible for Academic All-America honors. With a 3.84 cumulative grade point average, Kerr graduated in May with a Bachelor of Science, Magna Cum Laude, in accounting and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Taxation.

STORIED HISTORY
The women's basketball program at New Haven has a very strong history, most notably as the only team in the state of Connecticut, aside from UConn, that has won a national championship in the sport of women's basketball. The Chargers brought home that title in 1987 when they defeated Cal-Poly Pomona 77-75 to lift the trophy. Overall, New Haven has advanced to the national tournament nine times, most recently in back-to-back seasons in 2014 and 2015. The latter of those two seasons saw the Chargers advance to the Final Eight for just the second time in program history after defeating Stonehill 58-57 to win the East Region Championship.