NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven women’s basketball team fell 57-81 Saturday afternoon to Southern Connecticut State University at Moore Fieldhouse. The Chargers fell to 2-8 overall and 2-5 in the Northeast-10 Conference, while the Owls improved to 5-3, 5-2 in conference play.

A pair of SCSU free throw opened scoring on Saturday and the Owls held on to their lead for the entire game. The Owls led by six points after a non-traditional three-point play at the 15-minute mark. Southern Connecticut State continued to expand its lead throughout the first half. Five minutes later, a fast break layup gave the Owls a 22-8 lead. Nikitta Reddy capped a 9-3 UNH run which cut the Owls’ lead to eight at the 7:47 mark of the first half. The Owls would improve their lead to double digits once again, but Monica Schacker (Doylestown, Pa./Germantown Academy) scored five points in the final two minutes of the first half to bring the score within nine at halftime, 40-31.

Out of the half, Reddy hit another three-pointer to bring the Chargers within six. SCSU then missed a three-point attempt and then turned the ball over after an offensive board. Freshman Bria Moore (West Haven, Conn./Hill Regional Career) connected on a layup in the first minute of the second half to bring the Chargers within four, 40-36. Southern Connecticut answered with an 11-2 run to gain another double-digit lead with 14:20 left. Down the stretch, the Chargers shooting went cold and the Owls improved their lead to as many as 26 in the closing minutes.

Anh-Dao Tran (Webster, Mass./Holy Name) led the way for the Chargers with 20 points on 8-of-18 from the floor. Schacker added nine points, while Ashley LeBlanc (Methuen, Mass./Methuen) led the team with nine rebounds.

The Chargers now have a 20-day break before concluding their 2011 portion of the schedule on Friday, December 30 at Felecian College. The non-conference game will tip-off at 6 p.m. in Rutherford, N.J.