DeChent Leads 'Cats Past New Haven, 64-59

Sunday, December 28

Durham, N.H.

1 PM

University of New Hampshire

6-7,0-0America East

New Haven

2-9,0-0NEC

New Haven

New Hampshire

Photo by: Alex Miller

12/28/2025 5:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. – Junior guard Eva DeChent (Westchester, N.Y.) recorded 24 points and seven rebounds to lift the University of New Hampshire women's basketball team to Sunday afternoon's 64-59 victory against the University of New Haven at Lundholm Gym.

DeChent, the reigning America East co-Player of the Week, led all players in points, rebounds and assists (four). She scored UNH's last nine points of the game and that included going 4-for-4 at the foul line in the final 41 seconds to secure the win.

Maggie Cavanaugh (Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.), another junior guard, scored 14 points while junior forward Katie Ledden (Clark, N.J.) finished with eight points and seven rebounds.

Addisen Sulikowski led four Chargers in double digits with 16 points. Schuyler Coles, Merit Innocent and Aniya McDonald-Perry each had 10.

UNH won its third consecutive game to remain unbeaten at home (5-0) and improve to 6-7 overall. New Haven is now 2-9.

UP NEXT

UNH returns to action Thursday, Jan. 1 (6pm) for the America East conference opener at Bryant University.
The Wildcats' next home game is Jan. 8 (6pm) against NJIT. There will be a pre-game Chalk Talk with head coach Megan Shoniker and it is Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night.
CLICK HERE to buy tickets online for any UNH home game, including the Lundholm Loft -- elevated drinks and eats at elevated seats -- or call (603) 862-4000.

FIRST QUARTER

Kenzie Matulonis (Raynham, Mass.) scored the first points of the game on a backdoor cut at 9:09.
New Haven scored the next seven points – the Chargers' longest run of the game – to take a 7-2 lead at 7:11.
The Wildcats tied the score at 7, 10, 12 and 14 but did not retake the lead in the opening 10 minutes.
Neither team scored the final 2:30 of the first quarter after DeChent's two free throws tied the game at 14.

SECOND QUARTER

Whereas there was one lead change and five ties in the first quarter, there were five lead changes and one tie in the second.
Trailing 18-14 at 7:40, UNH went on a 7-0 run to retake the lead as DeChent connected a 3-pointer, Kassidy Thompson (Mullica Hill, N.J.) made a layup and Cavanaugh hit a jumper in the paint midway through the second quarter to give the 'Cats a 21-18 advantage.
The Chargers answered with a 6-2 spurt to go back in front, 24-23, at 3:09 but Cavanaugh drained a 3-pointer on UNH's next possession to give the 'Cats a 26-24 lead.
McDonald-Perry scored the last four points of the quarter to give the visitors a 28-26 lead through 20 minutes.

THIRD QUARTER

There was only one lead change and one tie score in the third quarter.
Facing its largest deficit of the game, 41-35, midway through the quarter, UNH closed with a 13-4 run to take a 48-45 lead.
Kent's layup at 4:15 ignited the rally, DeChent's three-point play lifted the Wildcats within one point, 41-40, at 3:48 and a 3-pointer by Ledden gave the 'Cats a 43-41 lead at 1:28.
Ledden made another long-range jumper in the closing minute and Cavanaugh beat the clock with a layup to give UNH a 48-45 lead at the end of three quarters.

FOURTH QUARTER

Another DeChent three-point play gave New Hampshire its largest lead of the game, 51-45, at 8:37.
Sulikowski's 3-pointer put New Haven back in front, 54-53, at 5:23.
On UNH's next possession, Cavanaugh hit a short jumper for a 55-54 lead and the Chargers never pulled even or led the rest of the way.
DeChent made a jump shot at 4:15 and 3-pointer at 3:47 as UNH matched its largest lead of the game, 60-54.
New Haven trimmed the deficit to one point, 60-59, at 2:05.
Ledden pulled down an offensive rebound with 57 seconds on the clock and the 'Cats retained possession on a jump ball with 46 seconds left.
DeChent was fouled with 41 to play and hit both three throws to extend the margin to 62-59.
The Chargers missed a game-tying 3-point shot with 18 seconds left. DeChent was fouled while corralling the defensive rebound and made two more foul shots to push the advantage to 64-59.
New Haven missed another 3-pointer with six seconds remaining and DeChent once again pulled down the defensive rebound to secure the win.

UNH NOTEBOOK

Ledden's seven rebounds are a career high.
DeChent has scored 20+ points in 7 of 13 games this season and 17 times in her career.
Jamie Kent (Dublin, Calif.) scored a season-high four points and matched her season high of four rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench.

 
GAME NOTEBOOK

Neither team led by more than six points in a game that saw eight lead changes and seven tie scores.
Both teams were perfect from the foul line. UNH was 15-for-15 and New Haven made all six free throw attempts.
The Wildcats had a 15-14 edge in second-chance points despite the visitor's 14-11 advantage on the offensive glass.