GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: November 10-11, 2023
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LOCATION: Joseph West Jones Center
Wilmington, Del. |
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GAME DAY LINKS |
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO |
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After some strong efforts against Division I teams during the preseason, the University of New Haven women's basketball team is set to play for keeps with a pair of games this weekend at the Goldey-Beacom Tip-Off Tournament in Wilmington, Delaware.
Aurora Deshaies (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Ludden), who averaged a double-double a season ago, will be surrounded by plenty of new faces.
"It is a different atmosphere and on the first day of preseason I was so excited," Deshaies said. "We didn't end last season like we wanted to so I came in with a mindset of we are going to get after it this year with every new piece that we have and I am excited to see what it is like."
Lindsay Hogan (Bayville, N.Y./Locust Valley), who started 14 games a season ago, and Gabrielle Stickle (Syracuse, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt) will have expanded roles as the Chargers need to replace leading scorer Cam DeBose and assists leader Kameryn King (Old Saybrook, Conn./Mercy).
New Haven also added Hamden's Makaela Johnson (Hamden, Conn./Hamden) who put up 10.6 points and 4.9 rebounds at Saint Rose. Johnson began her career at Division I Albany and could be ready to make an impact as one of eight newcomers on the team.
"It is a different team, there are a lot of young players, a lot of new players but what I like about them is we are getting better every day," New Haven coach Debbie Buff said.
"Mikaela Johnson is getting better. She hasn't played in our program, she was at D-I for a couple of years. She is somebody who has never really been pushed so I have some goals for her so I think she is going to be a contributor."
New Haven had a nine-game winning streak that pushed the Chargers' record to 15-7. New Haven dropped three of its last five games and that included a home loss to Franklin Pierce in the Northeast-10 tournament.
With Deshaies set to be in the middle of things, there are some building blocks for the Chargers to work with.
"Ro [Deshaies] came back in the best shape she has been in," Buff said. "[Becca] Townes is starting to learn our system. It takes time but once they learn how to play within our system, they will play freely.
"Lindsay Hogan (Bayville, N.Y./Locust Valley) got a lot of experience with some of our injuries last year and she is ready to go and be a great contributor."
New Haven plays the host team Wilmington in Friday's season opener and meets up with Goldey-Beacom on Saturday.
The home opener is set for Nov. 21 against Pace.
