WEST HAVEN, CONN. - The University of New Haven women's basketball team secured their first conference win of the season in a dominant 68-53 showing over the Saint Michael's Purple Knights on Thursday night. The win breaks a five-game losing streak and brings the Chargers to a 6-10 overall record. New Haven picked up their first win since Dec. 17, when they defeated the Bloomfield Bears, as well as their first home win since Nov. 28 against Saint Thomas Aquinas. The 15 point difference was the second largest margin of victory for the Chargers, only behind the 63-37 season opener against Bloomfield. The game was highlighted by a number of career-highs especially none other than junior guard Kameryn King (Old Saybrook, Conn./Mercy), who led the way with a personal high of 16 points while shooting 7-10. King also tallied four rebounds and three assists in the winning effort. Also racking up a career-high was Marigona Bacaliu (Worcester, Mass./Putnam Science Academy), who scored 15 points off of 6-10 shooting including 3-5 from beyond the arc. Aurora Deshaies (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Ludden) came one rebound shy of a double-double as she finished the game with 12 points, nine boards and three assists. Briana Van Cleaf (Staten Island, N.Y./Notre Dame Academy) was the fourth and final Charger to reach double-digit points in the victory, as she ended with 11 points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Gabrielle Stickle (Syracuse, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt) made her second straight start, putting up five points and three assists in 21 minutes of play. Camryn DeBose (Wellington, Fla./Wellington Community) did a little bit of everything on the court for New Haven, recording nine points, five rebounds and two assists. However, DeBose dazzled on the other end of the court, racking up a career-high eight steals. 

The Purple Knights were held to 21-60 (35.0%) shooting from the field and 9-35 (25.7%) from behind the perimeter. The Chargers finished the game with their most efficient night of the season, shooting 29-55 (52.7%) including a 10-16 (62.5%) first quarter. New Haven made six of their 15 attempted three-pointers while converting four of six from the line. New Haven forced the Knights into 21 turnovers while tying a team season-high 14 steals. While a majority came from DeBose, Bacaliu tallied three steals herself. The Chargers turned those turnovers into 22 points on the other end while Saint Michael's scored 16 points off of turnovers. Both teams had 34 rebounds each but the Chargers dominated in the paint, outscoring the Knights, 40-14, down low. New Haven edged out Saint Michael's on the fast break, 10-9, while giving up more second chance points, 6-14.

QUOTE FROM COACH BUFF:
"Great to get a conference win. I thought our defense was stellar and we really shared the ball. We got off to a great start and played hard for 40 minutes. Very happy for the team."

FIRST HALF

• King led all scorers in the first half of play with 10 points, eight of which in the first quarter, on 4-7 shooting while adding three rebounds.
• Bacaliu drained two three-pointers for her only points of the first half.
• DeBose recorded five points, three rebounds and two assists.
• Deshaies finished with a six point-five rebound first half while shooting 75 percent.
• Stickle also ended the first half with five points after sinking a three-pointer in the first quarter while adding two assists.
• Van Cleaf put up a four point- four rebound half. 
• Bacaliu and DeBose both racked up three steals in the half, while Deshaies, Stickle and Van Cleaf were credited with one.
• The Chargers ended the first quarter with a 24-10 lead but were outscored 12-18 in the second quarter.
• Saint Michael's was held to 4-12 (33.3%) from the field in the first quarter, while going 11-28 (39.3%) in the half.
• New Haven was relentless in the first quarter, shooting 10-16 (62.5%) from the floor in the first while finishing the half 15-29 (51.7%).
• The Chargers shot 4-11 (36.4%) from the perimeter while Saint Michael's went 4-13 (30.8%).
• Both teams hit two free throws in the first half.
• New Haven outrebounded the Purple Knights, 18-15, while outscoring them in the paint, 22-8.
• The Purple Knights scored 13 points off turnovers while New Haven scored eight.
• The Chargers were held to only two points on second chance opportunities while Saint Michael's had four.

SECOND HALF

• Bacaliu led the second half for New Haven with nine points and two rebounds.
• Van Cleaf scored seven points in the second half to bring her to double-digits.
• King and Deshaies both finished the second half with six points and three assists while the latter pulled down four rebounds, as well.
• DeBose added four points to her total but impressed on defense with five steals.
• Alyssa Stevenson (Watertown, N.Y./South Jefferson Central) was held with a basket but recorded a rebound and two assists.
• New Haven never let up as they outscored the Purple Knights in both the third and fourth quarter. 
• The Purple Knights shot 10-32 (30.4%) in the second half while being held to 5-22 () from the perimeter.
• The Chargers went 14-26 (32.1%) while going to 2-4 from three.
• Saint Michael's narrowly edged out New Haven in rebounds, 19-16 but New Haven continued to pound the paint, 18-6.
• The Chargers outscored the Knights 14-3 off turnovers but were outscored on second chance opportunities, 4-10.

WHAT'S NEXT
The University of New Haven women's basketball team looks to carry momentum on the road as they travel to Ridge, N.H. to take on the Franklin Pierce Ravens. Tip-off for that game is scheduled for 1:30 P.M. on Saturday at Franklin Pierce Fieldhouse.