EASTON, Massachusetts - The American International College women's basketball team headed east to take on Stonehill College to open 2018 on Wednesday, January 3. The Skyhawks used a great defensive first quarter to set the tone in their 80-52 win over the Yellow Jackets.

FAST FACTS:
Final score:Stonehill 80, AIC 52
Records:AIC falls to 7-8 overall and 1-5 in NE10 play, while Stonehill moves to 11-2 overall with a 7-1 NE10 record.
Location:Merkert Gymnasium (Easton, Massachusetts)

STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Dana Watts:14 points, four rebounds
Rashana Siders: 11 points
Ishanna Brown: Nine points, two rebounds

Stonehill:
Courtney Walsh: 28 points, three rebounds three assists
Samantha Hyslip: 12 points 10 rebounds, five assists
Kelsey Shaw: 12 points, four rebounds

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Skyhawks came out hot in the first 10 minutes of the game, holding the Yellow Jackets scoreless for the first seven minutes, until a pair of free throws by junior forward Dana Watts took the zero off the board for AIC. Sophomore guard Nadia Wooten made the first AIC field goal with 1:31 left in the opening frame as the Yellow Jackets ended the first quarter down 26-6.
• However, what they lacked in the first quarter, the Yellow Jackets made up for it in the second. AIC went on a 13-2 run over the first four minutes and change to make it a 28-19 game. Sophomore guard Rashana Siders knocked down a layup with just under three on the clock to make it a four-point game before the Skyhawks closed out the half on a 4-0 run to hold a 37-26 lead at the break.
• Coming out of the break, the Skyhawks went on a 10-0 run to take their lead up to 21 in the first four minutes. Watts knocked down a long ball to break the Stonehill run. Before the end of the third quarter, the Skyhawks' lead grew as high as 29 before ending the quarter up by 27.
• The Skyhawks kept rolling, taking the game by a score of 80-52

GAME NOTES:

• The Yellow Jackets were held to just six points in the first quarter, their second-lowest scoring quarter of the season. Their point differential, 14, between the first and the second quarter is also their second highest positive change between any consecutive quarters this season.
• The Yellow Jackets took care of the ball as they only gave the ball away 10 times, their second lowest of the season.
• With 12 steals, the Yellow Jackets tied their season record for steals in a game.

NEXT UP:

• AIC returns to action on Saturday in Colchester, Vermont, where it will take on the Purple Knights of Saint Michael's College.

STAY CONNECTED:

• For more updates about the AIC women's basketball team, follow@AICWBBonTwitterandInstagram, and likeAIC Women's BasketballonFacebook. For updates on all AIC Yellow Jackets teams, follow@AICAthleticsonTwitterandInstagram, and likeAIC Yellow JacketsonFacebook.