SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Freshman Dana Watts (Rochester, N.Y.) registered her third double-double of the season to lift American International College past the College of Saint Rose, 66-54, in Northeast-10 women's basketball action this evening from the Butova Gymnasium.
With the victory, AIC moves to 22-4 overall and 15-4 in conference play while Saint Rose drops to 14-13 on the year and 8-12 in the NE-10.
The Jackets controlled the pace early in the first quarter as senior Sydney Tepley (Racine, Wis.) banked home a three-ball to spark and 11-0 run which culminated with a traditional three-point play by Watts for the 13-4 edge at the 3:25 mark.
Senior Tyler Hansen (Fairfax, Va.) got the Golden Knights back into things with back-to-back trey's as part of a mini 8-0 spurt for the 13-12 deficit with under a minute to play in the quarter.
Saint Rose continued that momentum into the second quarter scoring the first seven points as junior Taylor Nazon (Chicago, Ill.) registered five points over that span for the 19-15 advantage at the 7:26 mark.
AIC fought back after that regaining control and outscoring the visitors 18-9 to finish the first half to take the 33-28 lead into the locker room.
In typical Yellow Jacket fashion they controlled the third quarter extending their lead to as many as 11 after a Watts lay-up at the 3:41 mark, but the Golden Knights began to chip away keeping the pressure on into the final quarter where they eventually made it a one-point game, 50-49, after a basket from junior Staci Barrett (Elmont, N.Y.) at the 6:17 mark.
Senior classmates Ebony Easter (San Antonio, Tx.) and Kamika Mason (Long Beach, Calif.) would then come up huge on back-to-back possessions as Easter drained a three and Mason had a strong drive through the lane for the finish and 59-51 lead at the 3:27 mark.
Junior Imani Stepney (Willingboro, N.J.) then converted a lay-up and Watts went 5-for-6 from the charity stripe down the stretch for the final score.
Watts led all scorers with 16 points and added 10 boards while Mason and Easter chipped in with 10 apiece. Nazon led the way for Saint Rose with 14 points.
AIC went 27-for-60 (45 percent) from the floor while the Golden Knights converted 20-of-50 (40 percent). The hosts also held the slim 33-32 edge on the glass while using nine steals to cause 18 turnovers and score 17 points off turnovers.
The Jackets return to the hardwood on Tuesday as they travel to Adelphi to close out the regular season with a 5:30 p.m. tip.
