SPRINGFIELD, MASS. - The University of New Haven women's basketball team picked up a dominant 49-36 win over the American International Yellow Jackets on Saturday afternoon. The win sends the Chargers to 8-13 on the season as they are now 3-12 in conference play. Leading the offense in a highly defensive battle was Aurora Deshaies (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Ludden) who finished the game with a 14 point-14 rebound double-double. The junior forward shot 6-12 from the field while on her way to her seventh double-double of the season. Deshaies has now pulled down 11 or more rebounds in 13 of the 20 games she has played in as she averages 10.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Nearing a double-double herself was Briana Van Cleaf (Staten Island, N.Y./Notre Dame Academy), who finished the game just shy with 10 points and nine rebounds in the winning effort. Van Cleaf's defense also played a big part in the team's win as she led the team with three steals. Brie Pergola (Torrington, Conn./Torrington) did a little bit of everything in the victory, tallying eight points, five rebounds and three assists. Kameryn King (Old Saybrook, Conn./Mercy) only took two shots in the game, draining a three-pointer for her lone make. The junior guard also went a perfect 2-2 from the line while recording four rebounds. Also held to a three-pointer as her lone field goal was Camryn DeBose (Wellington, Fla./Wellington Community), who finished with three points, four rebounds and an assist. Despite falling out of the top ten in NE10 scorers with 13.6 points per game, DeBose continues her defensive streak of 15 consecutive games with a steal. Freshman Bianca Pendleton (Accokeek, Md./New Hope Academy) scored four points and Bionca Chambers (Bronx, N.Y./New Milford) scored three, both of which scored all their points from the line, while the latter also racked up six rebounds and two assists. Rounding out all New Haven scorers is Gabrielle Stickle (Syracuse, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt), who scored her lone points on a layup in the first quarter off a Pergola assist.

The Yellow Jackets were held to 13-51 (25.5%) shooting from the field and 4-19 (21.1%) from behind the perimeter. The Chargers ended the game shooting 17-55 (30.9%) while only shooting 2-11 (18.2%) on three-point attempts. AIC shot 6-8 (75.0%) from the line as opposed to New Haven, who went 13-16 (81.3%). New Haven forced the Yellow Jackets into 17 turnovers with Van Cleaf, DeBose and Chambers leading the defense with the latter recording two steals, as well. 

The Chargers turned those turnovers into 16 points on the other end while American International scored 10 points off of turnovers. The Chargers outrebounded by the Yellow Jackets, 49-29 while also outscoring AIC 20-10 in the paint. AIC scored four points on second chance opportunities while New Haven scored eight.

QUOTE FROM BUFF
"A great team win on the road for us," said head coach Debbie Buff. "We played stellar defense today and really shared the ball. We talked about everyone rebounding before the game and they committed to defense and rebounding, outrebounding them 49-29."

FIRST HALF

• The Chargers started the game off slow, shooting only 1-12 (8.33%) from the field.
• New Haven went a perfect 6-6 from the line in the quarter, as the Yellow Jackets took an 10-8 lead going into the second.
• The squad then started the second quarter on a 13-0 run capped off by a Deshaies layup with 2:51 left.
• The Yellow Jackets strung together six points at the end of the quarter as New Haven took a 21-16 lead at the half.
• Deshaies led all scorers with eight points in the first half.
• The first points of the game for New Haven came at the line as Deshaies sunk both attempts.
• Both Deshaies and Van Cleaf racked up seven rebounds as the Chargers outrebounded the Yellow Jackets, 24-19.
• In addition to seven rebounds, Van Cleaf also scored two points in the first half.
• Pendleton scored four points in the half, all of which came from the line in the first quarter.
• Chambers ended the half with two points, both of which came from the line, as well.
• Kameryn King (Old Saybrook, Conn./Mercy) scored her only points of the half on a three-pointer in the second quarter off an assist from DeBose.
• Stickle's layup off an assist from Pergola with 3:29 left in the first were her only points in the half.
• Pergola finished the half with no points but tallied two rebounds and an assist.
• Alyssa Stevenson (Watertown, N.Y./South Jefferson Central) grabbed two rebounds in the half, as well.
• DeBose and Chambers record an assist and a steal in the half.
• New Haven shot 5-16 (31.3%) in the half and 6-28 (21.4%) in the first half.
• The Chargers were held to one three-pointer in the half, coming in the second quarter, King drained it off an assist from DeBose.
• AIC shot 6-26 (23.1%) from the field while being held to 1-10 (30.8%) from three.
• New Haven shot a perfect 8-8 from the line while American International went 3-4 (75.0%).
• The Chargers scored 11 points off of turnovers as opposed to the Yellow Jackets who scored six.
• Both teams scored two points on second chance opportunities.
• The Chargers forced nine turnovers while being forced into seven, themselves.

SECOND HALF

• The Chargers outscored the Yellow Jackets, 27-12 in the second and third quarters.
• Van Cleaf flipped the script in the second half, scoring eight points while tallying two rebounds and an assist.
• Pergola also enjoyed the second half with eight points, three rebounds and two assists.
• Deshaies put up a six point-seven rebound effort while also assisting on two baskets.
• King tallied two points and four rebounds in the second half while DeBose recorded three points and four rebounds.
• Chambers was held to two points but put in work on the glass, grabbing six rebounds.
• Van Cleaf led the defense with three second half steals while Deshaies, Pergola, DeBose and Chambers all were credited with one.
• American International shot 7-25 (28.0%) from the field including a 2-13 (15.4%) third quarter.
• New Haven finished with a 11-27 (40.7%) second half.
• AIC went 3-9 (33.3%) from beyond the arc while New Haven was held to 1-6 (16.7%).
• New Haven went 5-8 (62.5%) from the line while AIC went 3-4 (75.0%).
• The Yellow Jackets scored four points off of turnovers while the Chargers scored five.
• The Chargers outscored AIC, 10-6, in the paint.
• The Yellow Jackets scored two points on second chance opportunities whereas the Chargers scored six.
• The Chargers outrebounded AIC, 25-10, in the second half.

WHAT'S NEXT
The University of New Haven women's basketball team won't travel too far as they will head to Bentley to take on the Falcons. Tip-off for that game is scheduled for 5:30 P.M. on Monday, Feb.14 at the Dana Center.