BLOOMFIELD, N.J. - The University of New Haven women's basketball team picked up their first win in the month of December, beating non-conference Bloomfield on Friday, 62-57, to break a streak of three losses. The Chargers previously opened the 2021-22 season against the Bloomfield Bears at Moore Field House in New Haven as the team won handily, 63-37. Senior guard Camryn DeBose (Wellington, Fla./Wellington Community) led all scorers in tonight's game with 17 points off 5-14 (35.7%) shooting, while making two of her three attempted shots from deep. DeBose also racked up four rebounds for the second-straight game, as well as a season-high four assists. Brie Pergola (Torrington, Conn./Torrington), 6-14 (42.9%), and Aurora Deshaies (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Ludden), 7-16 (43.8%), both totaled 16 points in the winning effort, with the former going 3-6 (50%) from the perimeter. Deshaies tallied 12 rebounds, her fifth straight game reaching double-digits, to give her a double-double on the night. Despite a dominating effort on the glass from Deshaies, it was Briana Van Cleaf (Staten Island, N.Y./Notre Dame Academy) who led the Chargers with a career-high 13 rebounds, seven of which came on offense. Bionca Chambers (Bronx, N.Y./New Milford) returned to the starting lineup, scoring five points on 2-5 shooting, in addition to three rebounds and two assists. Junior guard Kameryn King (Old Saybrook, Conn./Mercy) saw 19 minutes of action, tallying seven points on 50 percent shooting, to go along with two rebounds, an assist and a steal.

The Bears shot 23-58 (39.7%) from the field while making five of 10 attempts from the three. In game that saw six lead changes, free throws were vital in the game as Chargers went 11-22 (50%) from the line, while the Bears went 6-14 (42.9%). New Haven forced Bloomfield into 18 turnovers, while totaling 6 steals, in addition to four blocks. Leading the defense was sophomore Gabrielle Stickle (Syracuse, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt) and freshman forward Bianca Pendleton (Accokeek, Md./New Hope Academy), who recorded two steals and three blocks, respectively. The Chargers turned defense into offense by scoring 18 points off turnovers. 

As a whole, the squad shot 23-67 (34.3%) from the field, while going 5-17 (29.4%) from beyond the arc. New Haven outrebounded the Bears, 48-37, and 21-9 on offensive rebounds, specifically. 30 of the Charger's points came from inside the paint while eight points came on second chance opportunities.

QUOTE FROM BUFF:
"We had a great week of practice and it felt good to win again. Cam DeBose got in early foul trouble but stayed focused and came back with confidence. Brie [Pergola] hit some big shots and Ro [Deshaies] finished down the stretch. Brianna [Van Cleaf] came in off the bench and got us 13 rebounds. We need to keep getting better and build on this."

FIRST HALF

• DeBose led the Chargers with ten points in the first half, while grabbing a board in the process.
• Deshaies had six points, while pulling down five rebounds.
• Van Cleaf led the Charger's on the glass, with six rebounds, two of which on offense.
• Pergola recorded two points, two assists and a rebound in the half.
• Pergola, Chambers and Van Cleaf each tallied two assists.
• Chambers also added four points and three rebounds to her first half effort.
• King totaled five points, a rebound, and an assist.
• Alyssa Stevenson (Watertown, N.Y./South Jefferson Central) sunk a free throw to put her on the board while recording an assist as well.
• On defense, the Chargers racked up three steals with DeBose, Pergola and King each having one.
• A layup from King with 46 seconds left in the first quarter gave the Chargers their biggest lead in the half, 17-10.
• A last second three from Bloomfield would send the Chargers into the second quarter with a 19-15 lead.
• The Bears went on a 13-7 run in the second quarter to close the gap and head to halftime tied up at 28.
• Bloomfield shot 12-29 (41.4%) from the field in the half, including three of six from the perimeter.
• The Chargers went 11-29 (38%) while going two of six from three.
• Neither team hit a three-pointer in the second quarter, as both went 0-3.
• The Bear shot 1-2 (50%) from the line as opposed to the Chargers who went 4-11 (36.4%).
• The Bears scored more points on turnovers, 7-6, but the Chargers outscored them in the paint, 12-8.

SECOND HALF

• Pergola exploded in the second half with 14 points, including three three-pointers.
• Deshaies dominated the paint with 10 points and five rebounds in the half.
• DeBose ended with seven points, all in the fourth quarter.
• Van Cleaf finished with seven rebounds in the second half, five of which were offensive.
• DeBose and Pergola each had four rebounds in the second half.
• DeBose also had four assists while Stickle had two, both on Pergola three-pointers.
• Stickle also finished with two steals, both in the third quarter.
• Deshaies's layup off a Van Cleaf assist with 7:24 left in the game gave the Chargers a 44-43 lead.
• Pergola's dagger layup with 41 seconds left gave New Haven a four point lead.
• Bloomfield shot 11-34 (32.4%) from the field in the half, including two of four from deep, while the Chargers went 12-38 (31.6%) while going three of 11 from three.
• The Bears shot 5-12 (41.7%) from the line as opposed to the Chargers who went 7-11 (63.6%).
• Bloomfield scored four points off turnovers while the Chargers scored 12.
• The Chargers outscored the Bears in the paint, 18-10. 
• The Chargers scored seven points on second chance opportunities during the second half, while the Bears scored five.

WHAT'S NEXT
The University of New Haven women's basketball team will return home to host the Chestnut Hill Griffins at Charger Gymanisum. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 on Sunday, Dec 19.