SPRINGFIELD, Mass. The American International College women's basketball team dropped their third-straight contest Wednesday evening to Saint Anselm in Northeast-10 action from the Butova Gymnasium, 64-55.
With the loss AIC falls to 15-3 on the year and 8-3 in the NE-10, while the Hawks improve to 11-6 overall and 7-5 in conference action.
Saint A's used a modest 12-3 run covering the middle portion of the opening quarter to grab a 12-8 advantage after a three-ball by sophomore Clairee Putnam (Windham, N.H.) at the 5:15 mark before AIC used three straight buckets to take the lead back after a drive and finish in the lane by freshman Dana Watts (Rochester, N.Y.) for the 14-12 score with 3:03 on the clock.
Watts then showed great hustle going end-to-end after a rebound to draw a foul with under a second left in the opening quarter. She proceeded to drain both free-throws to give the Jackets a 16-14 lead at the end of the first.
However, the Hawks came out strong in the second quarter using a 10-0 run over the first six-plus minutes to grab an eight-point edge, 24-18, after a lay-in by senior Raquel Johnson (Inglewood, Calif.).
AIC came right back finishing the half strong with a 10-0 run of their own capped off by a traditional three-point play by senior Kamika Mason (Long Beach, Calif.) for the 28-26 halftime score.
In a game of runs it was Saint Anselm who opened the third on an 7-0 spurt before the Jackets came back with an 11-3 bulge of their own to grab the 39-36 lead after Mason converted the hoop and the harm and Watts added a lay-up at the 3:25 mark.
The fourth quarter began with freshman Jayda Gilmore (Elkridge, Md.) connecting on a mid-range jumper for the four-point margin before the Hawks used the next three minutes to flip the lead to four points on their side with the 49-45 lead after a Johnson lay-up at the 6:14 mark.
Later in the quarter Watts registered four-straight points to give AIC the lead back at 51-50 with 4:35 to play before St. A's used a three from sophomore Ali Glennon (Bedford, N.H.) to ignite a 7-0 run and grab the 57-51 lead with 1:47 left in regulation.
Despite a pair of buckets from senior Brianna Bishop (Suffield, Conn.) the visitors hit their free-throws down the stretch to come away with the victory.
The Hawks shot 23-of-60 (38 percent) from the field and dominated the glass 45-33 while the Jackets managed 36 percent (20-for-55) shooting on the night.
Mason paced AIC with 14 while Watts managed a double-double with 12 points and 13 boards and Gilmore chipped in with 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting. Freshman Samnell Vonleh (Swampscott, Mass.) led the opposition with a double-double of her own of 16 points and 13 rebounds.
American International returns to action Saturday with a trip to Stonehill for a 1:30 p.m. tip-off.
