FLUSHING, New York - The American International College women's basketball team surged in the third quarter in a 68-51 nonconference victory over Queens College on Wednesday, December 19.
FAST FACTS:
Final Score: AIC 68, Queens 51
Record: AIC improves to 7-5 overall, while Queens drops to 2-9 overall.
Location: Fitzgerald Gymnasium, Flushing, New York
STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Rashana Siders: 21 points, four assists
Alyssa Guyon: 16 points, six rebounds
Ishanna Brown: Five points, five rebounds, eight assists, five steals
Queens:
Analeza Edore: 10 points, 11 rebounds
Beth Bonin: 11 points, three rebounds
My'eesa Grant: Seven points, seven rebounds
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Queens opened the game on a 3-0 run, but junior guard Rashana Siders knocked down an open three from the right side to tie the game and get AIC on the board. The Knights scored on each of their next two possessions as the Yellow Jackets shooting went cold, with only senior forward Alyssa Guyon's jumper falling, but Queens missed on a few possessions as well, keeping the deficit to 7-5 at the first media timeout at 5:37.
Out of the break, Siders knocked down a pair of free throws to tie the game, and then a steal by sophomore guard Nyrie Holliman sent freshman guard Zoe Willis in on a fast break to put AIC ahead for the first time at the 6:30 mark. The scoring stagnated again until freshman guard Sabrina Armstrong drilled a three from the right side after a steal to put the Yellow Jackets ahead 14-8, and on the next possession, senior guard Dominique Boyd hit a runner to extend the edge to 16-8, where it remained at the end of the frame.
Both teams missed their first chances of the second quarter, but Siders was able to lay in a runner on the second possession to keep AIC rolling, and followed that with a three to bring the lead to 21-8. Queens stopped the run with a third-chance basket, but Siders stepped up and hit a three to put AIC up 24-10, followed by Boyd sinking a deep shot off of a cross-court Guyon pass. However, the Knights broke off a six-point run into the media timeout at the 5:31 mark.
Guyon sank a layup to break the Queens streak, and junior guard Nadia Wooten got on the scoresheet by finishing a layup from the right to bring AIC's advantage to 31-16. Queens hit the final basket of the half with 1:55 left, leaving the Yellow Jackets with a 13-point lead at the break.
Guyon started the second half off by winning a battle under the basket to sink a layup, and Siders followed with one of her own on the next possession; Queens struck back, only to see Guyon power through the defense again for another two and then Siders hit a floater to extend the lead to 39-20.
After a Queens basket and timeout, Boyd and Siders added to the lead, with the latter scoring on a fast break after a steal by sophomore guard Ishanna Brown. Queens was able to cut into the deficit with a pair of baskets, but Willis executed a spin in the lane to get to the hoop for a layup; two possessions later, the 20-point lead was restored by a Brown runner to make it 51-31. Willis then laid in a fast break opportunity to close the quarter's scoring.
In the final frame, Guyon again started the scoring with a pair of free throws as part of four points in two possessions for her. Queens spun off a six-point run to draw within 57-39 at the 3:02 mark of the fourth.
Guyon came up big again, beating the Queens defense to a rebound to sink a putback, and Boyd added to the lead on the following possession. Siders sank a driving layup to put AIC ahead 63-41 and force another Queens timeout.
The Knights pressed out of the timeout, but the Yellow Jackets passed around the defense until Armstrong was left open in the left corner for a three; she also hit a runner in the lane on the following possession. Queens went on a six-point run to end the scoring, but AIC was well in command in the 68-51 win.
SIDERS HAS CAREER NIGHT:
Siders' 21 points were a career-best; her previous best was 19, scored against Adelphi on December 8.
"We all came together as a team, especially knowing that one of the best players in the league didn't play. We stuck it out and played with each other, and now we'll enjoy a nice break," Siders said after the game.
NEXT UP:
The Yellow Jackets will host the University of Bridgeport on January 3 at 5:30 p.m.
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.
