WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Southern Connecticut women's basketball fell to Elm-City and NE10 rival, University of New Haven, 55-49 in a close battle across town, on Wednesday night. The Owls dropped to an overall record of 17-8 and an NE10 record of 10-8. The Chargers improved to an overall record of 15-9, and an NE10 record of 10-8.
Katie Williamson led the Owls with 14 points, as she was 2-for-3 from the free-throw line, grabbed five boards, dished two assists and had a block.
Delaney Haines scored 12 points, was 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, had two assists and a block.
Hope Fox recorded eight points, as she was 4-for-8 from the floor, had a team-best of seven rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Rheyna Steinauer had eight points, as she was 4-for-7 from the floor, grabbed five boards and had two assists.
Jillian Martin led the team with six assists, had five points, and a team-best of two steals.
Ally Sentance scored two points, had three rebounds and two steals against the Chargers.
In the first quarter, it was a true, defensive battle from the jump ball for both teams.
Delaney Haines got the scoring going for the Owls, with a three-pointer and an assist from
Jillian Martin. Back and forth, each team traded points as the Owls took a two-point lead with 15 seconds to go; however, the Chargers tied the game, 10-10, before time ran out.
In the second quarter, New Haven started off the quarter with a 10-2 run but the Owls stormed back with a 6-0 run of their own, midway through. With a minute left, the Chargers hit a two-pointer to extend their lead to three points.
Delaney Haines then went to the free-throw line and made both, to cut New Haven's lead to one point. Heading into halftime, the Chargers were leading 24-23.
In the third quarter, New Haven came out of halftime, with momentum as they extended their advantage to five points. Southern recorded key baskets from Martin and Fox to once again, cut the lead to three but right before the quarter ended, the Chargers hit a three-pointer to get their lead back up to five going into the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, Fox, Williamson and Martin helped the Owls tie up the score at 40-40, but the Chargers started to pull away again halfway through the quarter. A made three-pointer by Haines helped cut the five-point lead by New Haven, with a 1:21 left.
Ally Sentance came up with a huge turnover to get the ball back as
Delaney Haines made another jumper to cut the lead to three. New Haven would go down the court and make two free-throws to bring their lead back to five again with 19 seconds left. The Chargers defense came up big as the they got the ball back and finished out the game with a 55-49 victory.
The Owls will play Franklin Pierce at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22 in NE10 action in the Moore Field House.
