SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College women's basketball team earned a win against Pace University, with a final score of 67-56 at Butova Gym on Saturday, Feburary 11.
Dana Watts finished with 32 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Imani Stepney tacked on another nine points and grabbed 10 boards for the Yellow Jackets as well. Kirsten Dodge finished with 20 points and nine rebounds but it wasn't enough for the Setters.
AIC got off to slow start against Pace, going down 7-0. But they got going just enough to tie up the score at 19 at the end of the first quarter. A strong first quarter showing by Watts paved the way as she finished with six points, two assists and three rebounds at the end of one.
Watts formed a good partnership with Stepney in the first half and that allowed AIC to go into the break leading 34-29. At the end of the first half, it was clear that AIC's interior defense was too much for Pace to handle, as 40 percent of their field goal attempts were three-pointers and they had only shot five free throws. This allowed AIC to gain control and lead for 60 percent of the first half.
At the end of the third quarter, AIC led 50-41, playing at a much quicker tempo than Pace, averaging 12 seconds per possession. This speed disrupted Pace as the team finished with 16 turnovers, which AIC capitalized upon by picking up 16 points off of turnovers.
Pace got the lead down to six with about seven minutes to go, but Watts took control of the game and defeated any chance of a comeback, scoring on the next two possessions to push the lead to 10. The next possession, she wasn't able to finish near the rim, but she drew so much attention from Pace's defense that Tanisha Moyer was able to grab the offensive rebound and draw a foul. Moyer made one of two from the line to push the lead to 11 and AIC coasted from there as Pace never got the lead down to single digits again.
AIC is now 12-6 in conference play and stays in second in the Southwest Division behind Adelphi. Pace is 5-12 and now sixth in the Southwest Division. If Le Moyne loses in its midweek clash with Adelphi, AIC will have the two seed in the division locked up. AIC's next game is February 18 at Saint Rose, and then they will close the season on February 21 with a home game against Adelphi.
