West Haven, Conn. - In its first game of 2025, the Adelphi University women's basketball team emerged victorious in its game against University of New Haven on Thursday evening, by a final score of 46-38.

Defense defined the first quarter for the 'Cats, who held the hometown Chargers without a field goal for the first five minutes. A turnaround jumper from New Haven's Paige Cote stood as the only home team basket in the opening ten minutes. 

Rolanda Robinson, Kaitlyn O'Connell, and Christina Sanchez all chipped in in that order to score the Panthers' initial eight points as the game got underway. 

The hosts came out of their huddle for the second quarter with fire, tallying five points to take the lead early on. That wouldn't stay for long though, as freshman Gamila Betton and sophomore Lauren Beberman rallied for a pair of layups to take the advantage right back. Isabella Asencio grabbed two layups of her own to complete the 8-0 run by the Brown and Gold. Strong defense persisted into the halftime horn, as the Chargers shot 4-19 in the first half of action. 

Shooting woes continued for New Haven out of the locker room, as the hosts only hit one field goal through nearly seven minutes. Meanwhile, Adelphi capitalized with a 10-2 run, capped off by a deep shot from Robinson. A late surge from the Blue and Gold however would cut the lead to single digits as the game approached the final quarter. 

Once more, New Haven struggled to get anything going offensively in the fourth, with their first make taking over three and a half minutes. An 8-0 run down the stretch however put some new life into the contest, after Cote knocked down a pair of free throws with 2:11 remaining. Robinson immediately responded with a jumper of her own, solidifying her double digit night. 

Three free throws from Robinson and O'Connell increased the margin to eight, where the game ended for the Panthers' fourth conference win of the season. 

Robinson and Asencio would combine for 23 points and six steals, leading the 'Cats to their eighth victory, breaking last season's total. 

Head Coach Sade Jackson and Adelphi will be back in action on Sunday, Jan. 5 when they travel to Saint Michael's College. Tip-off from Colchester, Vt. is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.