On Saturday, the women’s basketball team extended its impressive run with a commanding 70-51 victory over the Franklin Pierce Ravens. The win pushed the Chargers’ record to 13-5 overall and 8-4 in Northeast-10 conference play, as they outpaced the Ravens with a dominant second-half performance. New Haven took control in the third quarter, outscoring Franklin Pierce 29-17, and never looked back to secure the comfortable win.
In the first quarter of this matchup, the Chargers took an early 14-12 lead over the Ravens after a back-and-forth start. New Haven’s offense dominated early with a three-pointer from guard Sabira Ahayeva, but Franklin Pierce continued to fight back, despite several missed opportunities, including multiple missed layups and shots from behind the three point arc. The Chargers continued to extend their lead with a jumper from center Paige Cote, and a three-pointer from guard Charlotte Basset. Franklin Pierce Struggled to capitalize on turnovers and rebounds. The Ravens briefly closed the gap with a fast-break three-pointer by Janessa Gonzalez in the final seconds, but New Haven held onto the lead heading into the second quarter.
Through the second quarter, the game remained tight as both teams exchanged leads. Franklin Pierce tied the game early at 14-14 with a jumper from Paige Slaven, but New Haven quickly responded with a layup from forward Bianca Pendleton, to take a 16-14 lead. A series of fouls and missed chances on both ends followed. The Ravens tied it again at 16-16 with a jumper by Gonzalez, and after more back and forth action, they briefly pulled ahead 18-16 after a pair of free throws from Sara Macary. However, the Chargers responded with a three-pointer from guard Lindsay Hogan, reclaiming the lead 19-18. The teams traded free throws, with Macary giving Franklin Pierce a 20-19 edge. In the final moments of the quarter, New Haven’s forward Merit Innocent scored a layup which put the Chargers back on top 22-21 to end the quarter.
In the third quarter, New Haven continued to build upon their lead with a strong offensive showing. The Chargers started the quarter with a layup from Cote, assisted by Ahayeva, to extend their lead 23-22. New Haven went on a scoring run, including a fast-break layup by Bassett, followed by a three-pointer from Hogan, extending the lead to 28-22. Despite Franklin Pierce’s attempts to rally, including a free throw by Liv Murray, New Haven’s defense held strong. Hogan hit another jumper and the Chargers maintained their pressure, with a layup from Cote extending their advantage to 34-22. The Ravens struggled to find consistency, missing several shots, including a three-pointer from Slaven and a layup attempt by Macary. With New Haven up by 15 points, Franklin Pierce responded with a three-pointer from Gonzalez, but the Chargers remained dominant. Hogan’s three-pointer extended New Haven’s lead to 37-24. Throughout the quarter, both teams had brief turnovers, and New Haven capitalized on those mistakes, increasing their lead further. The quarter concluded with a three-pointer from guard Nayeli Dowding, which sent the Chargers into the final quarter with a 50-39 advantage over the Ravens.
In the fourth quarter, New Haven’s offense continued to dominate with three-pointers from Hogan, Dowding, and a layup from Cote, extending their lead to 58-41. Despite some effort from Franklin Pierce, including layups from Colette Mulderig and Slaven, New Haven remained strong. The Chargers capitalized on turnovers and missed shots, with Dowding and guard Schuyler Coles putting additional points on the board. Franklin Pierce managed a brief rally with a jumper from Grace Wigginton and a three-pointer from Gonzalez, but New Haven answered back with more free throws and layups, closing out the game 70-51.
After the win against the Ravens,, the Chargers move to a record of 13-5 (8-4 NE10), which makes them third in the NE10 rankings for women’s basketball. On Jan. 28, the Chargers will face their conference rivals the Southern New Hampshire University Penmen. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Stan Spirou Field House. For more information about the Chargers, visit https://newhavenchargers.com/sports/womens-basketball.