With the Chargers’ first Division I season coming to a close, the team entered its final slate of games and faced off against NEC rival, the Wagner College Seahawks and the Le Moyne College Dolphins.
For their first game of the slate, the Chargers battled a tough Wagner squad in a back-and-forth contest that came down to the final possession. The opening quarter set the tone, with both teams trading baskets and keeping the score within four points, as New Haven shot 7-for-15 from the field. The Chargers followed with an even stronger second quarter and went 7-for-11 to take a four-point lead into halftime, shooting 55% overall in the first half despite early struggles from the three-point range.
Momentum shifted in the third quarter, however, Wagner tightened up defensively and held New Haven to just 4-for-14 shooting, which turned the deficit to 48-43 entering the fourth. Both teams went back and forth in the final quarter, with the Chargers shooting 23-for-52 overall and 7-for-16 from beyond the arc.
Trailing 62-59 with 10 seconds remaining, Jasmine McKay, who led New Haven with 17 points off 6-for-10 shooting and 3-for-5 from the three-point range, knocked down a clutch three-pointer to cut the deficit to one. Wagner answered at the free-throw line, converting one of two attempts to extend the lead to two, and New Haven’s final shot attempt fell short, sealing a 64-62 loss.
Aniya McDonald-Perry added 14 points and a dominant 17 rebounds, helping the Chargers win the battle on the glass, 40-28, and tally 28 points in the paint.
In the match against Le Moyne, the Chargers lost 53-48.
New Haven started strong in the first quarter, knocking down four three-pointers and shooting 6-for-17 to take a 17-14 lead. The momentum carried into the second quarter, where the Chargers built their largest lead of the game at 32-21, but as shooting struggles began to surface, they went just 5-for-20 in the period.
After entering halftime with the lead, the third quarter marked a turning point as Le Moyne caught fire and shot 8-for-15, outscoring New Haven 22-10 to take a 43-42 lead into the fourth.
The Chargers’ offense continued to stall in the final frame, managing just 3-for-17 from the field and going scoreless from beyond the arc. New Haven finished the game 17-for-69 overall and 7-for-27 from the three-point range. Lindsay Hogan led the way with 18 points and six rebounds, while McKay added 13 points and went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
McDonald-Perry chipped in seven points and 10 rebounds as the Chargers were outrebounded 47-39 and limited to 12 points in the paint, unable to overcome Le Moyne’s second-half surge.
With the two losses, the Chargers fell to 7-21 overall and 5-12 in conference play. On Thursday, the women’s basketball team will travel to New Britain, Conn., to face the Central Connecticut State University (CCSCU) Blue Devils for their final game of the season. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. For more information, visit NewHavenChargers.com.
