STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The New Haven women's basketball team survived another close game on the road, this time against the College of Staten Island Dolphins, in a thrilling 72-64 victory in overtime. Brie Pergola (Torrington, Conn./Torrington) led the charge for New Haven with a career-high 24 points and six three-pointers, while adding nine rebounds for a near double-double. Cam DeBose had another strong performance for the Chargers, tallying 18 points, six rebounds and two assists. Coming off NE10 Player of the Week honors after racking up a double-double and a game-winner against Georgian Court, Aurora Deshaies (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Ludden) almost recorded another one on Wednesday, scoring 12 points on 83.3 percent shooting while pulling down nine rebounds.

For the first time this season, New Haven outrebounded their opponent. The Chargers grabbed 51 boards, including 21 on the offensive end, while the Dolphins totaled 49. Briana Van Cleaf (Staten Island, N.Y./Notre Dame Academy) led the team with ten rebounds with five on each end. Bionca Chambers (Bronx, N.Y./New Milford) also ended with a career-high seven rebounds, in addition to six points.

As a whole, the squad shot 28-76 (36.8%) from the field, while going 9-30 (30%) from beyond the arc. Defense was the difference maker on Wednesday for the blue and gold, in a game that saw three lead changes, holding the Dolphins to 20-71 (25.6%) and 6-26 (23.1%) from three. The defense forced 20 turnovers, led by Pergola who racked up three steals and two blocks, converting those 20 turnovers into 16 points. All together, the team finished the game with seven blocks and nine steals.

The Chargers controlled the low post once again, outscoring the Lions 30-14 in the paint and 16-4 in the second half. While the Chargers's bench didn't play much of a factor, the Dolphins got 29 points out of their reserves. New Haven scored 22 points off second chance opportunities but none on fast breaks, while the Dolphins scored 14 and 6, respectively.

FIRST HALF

• The Chargers jumped out to an early 7-0 lead before eventually finding themselves down 34-33 at halftime.
• The Chargers saw a combination of seven different players make baskets.
• DeBose led New Haven in the first half of play with 10 points and four rebounds.
• Pergola did a little bit of everything for the squad, tallying eight points, two rebounds, a steal and a block.
• Deshaies and Chambers both put up four points, with the latter outrebounding the former, 3-2.
• DeBose and Pergola each made two three-pointers, while Luzdali Ocasio (Davenport, Fla./New Hampton) added one to bring the team total to five before the half.
• Sophomore forward Azure Riley (Windsor, Conn./Windsor) scored her first points in the blue and gold on a layup two minutes into the second quarter.
• Riley also led the squad with six rebounds.
• Gabrielle Stickle (Syracuse, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt) recorded her first career assist, as well.
• The team shot 13-37 (35.1%) from the field, while shooting 5-15 (33.3%) from beyond the arc.
• The Chargers only drew two free throw attempts in the first half, making both of them.
• The College of Staten Island went 11-30 (36.7%) and 3-8 (37.5%) from three and made nine free throws on 11 attempts.
• New Haven was in control of the paint early, out-scoring the Dolphins 12-8 while also outrebounding them 24-19.
• The Chargers converted 16 points on second chance opportunities.

SECOND HALF

• Pergola and DeBose both totaled eight points, with the former going 2-4 from three.
• Deshaies racked up a six point- six rebound half for the Chargers.
• Van Cleaf also tallied six rebounds in the second half.
• Van Cleaf, Chambers and Marigona Bacaliu (Worcester, Mass./Putnam Science Academy) each also scored a basket in the half.
• The Chargers shot 2-12 (16.7%) from three, including a season low 0-7 in the third quarter.
• As a squad, the Chargers shot 12-34 (35.3%) from the field.
• The defense forced nine turnovers while blocking two shots and recording six steals.
• The Dolphins were held to 8-32 (25%) shooting and 3-12 (25%) from three while going 8-10 from the line.
• The Chargers were outrebounded 24-21 in the second half.
• Staten Island tied the game with a little over a minute left in the game but forced a turnover to prevent another Chargers walkoff.

OVERTIME

• The Chargers dominated overtime, outscoring the Dolphins, 11-3.
• Pergola was nearly unstoppable with eight points on 2-2 shooting, both from three, while adding two rebounds, a steal and an assist.
• Deshaies scored two points and added another rebound while Ocasio went 1-2 from the line for the only other Chargers's points in overtime.
• The Dolphins were held to 1-9 shooting (11.1%) in the clutch and 0-6 from the arc.

WHAT'S NEXT
After picking up their third-straight win of the season, the Chargers will travel to Syracuse to take on another squad of Dolphins, this time Le Moyne for the first game within conference play. Tip off for that game is scheduled for 1:00 PM on Saturday, Nov. 20 at Ted Grant Court.