Make it another win. The New Haven women’s basketball team’s win streak has now reached eight games, their longest since the 2018-19 season. On Tuesday night, they came out with a gritty 49-40 win after a defensive battle against Saint Michael’s College. This win streak has come at the perfect time for the Chargers, approaching the final stretch of the regular season and giving them a prime opportunity to move ahead in the conference standings.

The defense came out firing for New Haven in the first quarter with steals from guards Kameryn King, Lindsey Hogan and forward Aurora Deshaies. King started the scoring for the Chargers with an and-one to complete the three-point play. Both teams continued to play strong defense early on and Deshaies added to their lead with a pair of free throws.

Saint Michael’s tallied their first score on a three-pointer from Paige Slaven but Deshaies and King continued their hot start to the game with a pair of free throws and a jumper, sending Saint Michael’s into a timeout. Brianna Furch knocked down a three for the Purple Knights out of the timeout, making it a three-point game.

New Haven’s offense came alive late in the first quarter, scoring 11 consecutive points to take a commanding 20-6 lead with 1:17 remaining. Emma MacDonough hit a jumper to cut into the lead but forward Bianca Pendleton added her first score of the game with five seconds left to send the Chargers to the second quarter with a comfortable 14-point lead.

A steal by Deshaies set up King for New Haven’s first score of the second quarter, sending Saint Michael’s into another timeout. The Purple Knights’ offense responded with three consecutive baskets to cut the deficit to 10.

New Haven’s defense was able to control the game. After a block by forward Alyssa Stevenson the offense got back on track with a jumper from Deshaies and a missed jumper from Slaven gave New Haven another opportunity to add to their lead. Guard Camryn DeBose added to her team-high 17-point performance with a jumper. Forward Leighanna Lister tallied another basket with 36 seconds left in the half to send the Chargers into the break with a 12-point lead.

In the third quarter, with a jumper from Hogan and a fastbreak layup from DeBose, New Haven continued to add to their lead with eight minutes left to play in the third quarter. The defense continued to be a strong point for the Chargers as Lister registered a block and New Haven held Saint Michael’s to just 20 points well into the third quarter.

A turnover by Saint Michael’s Makayla Blake set up another score for Lister, who made the layup to give the Chargers a 19-point lead with 2:38 left in the quarter. Saint Michael’s offense could not get anything going, finishing with just 24 points through the first three quarters.

The fourth quarter started with promise for Saint Michael’s, who cut the deficit within ten with just under nine minutes to play. But King would have nothing to do with a comeback and brought the lead back to double digits for New Haven with a three, snapping the team’s 4:21 scoreless streak.

After a timeout by New Haven, DeBose knocked down a three to stretch the lead to 15. Saint Michael’s started to chip away again with a three and a pair of free throws from Slaven. Their comeback would come up short, as King and DeBose hit free throws to seal the game for New Haven and mark their eighth consecutive win.