The University of New Haven Department of Athletics hosted the 6th annual “Class at the Court” event on Wednesday, Jan 3. The event brought 450 fourth grade students from the West Haven Elementary School district to help create an experiential learning and a community engagement experience for the students. It also gives student athletes and coaches an opportunity to interact with the community.

The fourth graders arrived at 9:30 a.m. to go through a class session before they were treated to an exciting game between the women’s basketball team and St. Anselm. The students were given the opportunity to tour Gehring Hall and the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science. On the tour, students were given a science lesson on DNA. The students were also given an extensive lesson on physics and how it relates to basketball and the art of rebounding. There were demonstrations done to show how our athletes comply with the laws of physics to help them compete and win games.

Later, the students were taken to Charger Gym to experience New Haven take on St. Anselm in a NE-10 matchup. The students were greeted by Charlie the Charger and members of the University of New Haven Athletics Department, who presented them with t-shirts and a gift bag. The students took up the whole right side of Charger Gym as they cheered for their hometown Chargers.

The students were all in, and it helped to energize the Chargers. Coming off a 91-60 win over LIU Post on December 31, the Chargers carried the momentum from the crowd onto the court against the Hawks. The teams battled back and forth for all four quarters. Neither team was able to jump out to a convincing lead.

The Chargers biggest lead was five with 9:02 left in the second quarter. The Hawks got out to a six -point lead with 1:23 left in the third quarter, but New Haven battled back. In a game where we saw seven lead changes and nine ties, it was New Havens final possession that was the deciding factor. With 19 seconds left in the fourth quarter, game tied at 54 freshman point guard Brie Pergola drove to the basket only to be met by three St. Anselm defenders. With a quick flick of the wrist Pergola kicked it out to a wide-open Alexandria Kerr who was standing behind the three point arc. Kerr shot the fadeaway three and drained it with 2.5 seconds left.

Kerr was the hero as the Chargers won 57-54 rattling off their third straight win for the first time this season.

“Playing in front of the students is one of the best experiences ever. The amount of energy the kids bring is exciting,” Kerr said. “Bring able to encourage the students’ academics through playing the sport we love is the greatest part about Class at the Court.”