WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Graduate post player Aurora Deshaies (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Ludden) calmly secured her sixth rebound of the game with under a minute remaining in the first half setting her second career milestone of the season as she became just the fourth player in program history to collect at least 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. That rebound was part of the Syracuse, N.Y. native's 11th double double as she closed out the game with 12 points and 12 rebounds as the Yellow Jackets secured a 60-50 victory on Saturday afternoon.
The 12 points from Deshais led New Haven on the day as she was the only Charger to finish in double figures. Following her in the scoring column was junior guard Charlotte Bassett (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) who came off the bench to finish with nine points. Overall, nine different players found their way into the scoring column including all five starters which included the five seniors honored prior to the game.
Makaela Johnson (Hamden, Conn./Hamden) followed Deshaies and Bassett with seven points and Bianca Pendleton (Accokeek, Md./New Hope Academy) added a half dozen. As a team, New Haven finished the game shooting 35.6 percent from the field but were unable to find a rhythm from outside the three point arc, connecting on just 2-of-20 from long range. In addition, they finished 6-of-7 at the free throw line.
The Chargers did manage to take the advantage on the boards with a 39-32 lead in the battle of the boards with Deshaies 12 rebounds leading all players in the game. Senior point guard Gabrielle Stickle (Syracuse, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt) followed with six rebounds that she added to five points and three assists. Bassett and Johnson each lead the Chargers with five assists apiece, part of 16 total for the game.
The Chargers will spend the next two games away from their West Haven campus with trips to New Hampshire and New York on the docket. First up will be the second trip of the month to Manchester, N.H., this time to take on the Saint Anselm Hawks on Wednesday, February 21 at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium. Tip off in the NE10 battle is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. with all of the action available live on NE10Now.tv.
