SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - Despite a late comeback from the visiting squad, the American International College women's basketball team was able to earn their third consecutive victory with a 62-57 win over The College of Saint Rose on Wednesday, February 14.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score:AIC 62, Saint Rose 57
Location:Butova Gymnasium, Springfield, Massachusetts
Records:AIC improves to 12-14 and 6-12 in NE10 play, while Saint Rose falls to 9-15 and 7-11 in NE10 action.

STATS LEADERS:
AIC:
Dana Watts: 23 points, 13 rebounds, 9-for-9 from the free throw line
Alyssa Guyon: 11 points, five rebounds, three assists
Rashana Siders: Nine points, four rebounds
Ishanna Brown: Eight points, four rebounds, two steals

Saint Rose:
Isa Rey: 12 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals
Leah Dollard: 10 points
Courtney Clasen: Eight points, five rebounds

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• With an early 6-4 lead just 1:41 into the game, the Yellow Jackets proceeded to go on a 11-0 run to have a 17-4 cushion. After Cameron Graupman drained a three to bring the Golden Knights within 10 points, Dana Watts scored the next four points to give AIC a 21-7 advantage. At the 1:12 mark of the first quarter, Alyssa Guyon made a jumper to give the Yellow Jackets a 14-point lead, but Saint Rose sank a pair of free throws to be down 12 going into the second quarter.
• Starting the scoring in the second quarter, Leah Dollard made a jumper to get the Golden Knights within 10 points of the lead. AIC would bring its lead to 15 after Ishanna Brown connected on a jumper and then Guyon drilled a triple. Down 30-15 at the 6:25 mark of the quarter, Saint Rose went on a 12-0 run in the span of 3:51 to be down just 30-27. With 1:25 left before halftime, Rashana Siders hit a shot from beyond the arc, followed by a layup from Nyrie Holliman to give the Yellow Jackets a 38-29 lead going into halftime.
• Dominique Boyd started the third quarter with a three to give AIC 41-29 advantage. At the 5:31 mark of the quarter, Watts made a layup to have the Yellow Jackets up 47-31. On the next possession, the Golden Knights answered right back with a layup of their own from Zoe McDonald. For the next 3:11 of the contest, neither team was able to score until Ashley Vanderwall drained a three-pointer to bring Saint Rose within 11 points of the lead. AIC was able to hold a 53-38 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
• The Golden Knights went on a 5-0 run to begin the final quarter. Guyon then stopped that run by hitting a pair of free throws to give the Yellow Jackets a 55-43 lead with 8:10 left in regulation. With 4:27 remaining in the game, Karissa Birthwright made a layup to bring Saint Rose within nine points of the lead. Hanging on to a slim 56-50 lead with 1:56 left in the contest, Courtney Clasen made a three to make it 56-53. AIC then brought its lead back up to five points with a layup from Watts. After Isa Rey made two free throws to make it 58-55 with just under one minute to play, Watts made another layup to make it 60-55. With under 20 seconds left in the game, Watts was fouled, and made both free throw attempts to allow the Yellow Jackets to hang on for the 62-57 victory.

GAME NOTES:

• Watts started the season in 19^thplace in scoring in program history. She has moved into fourth place after scoring 23 points against Saint Rose to pass her coach, Kristen Hutchison. Prior to the game, Watts was 17 points behind Hutchison.
• After out-rebounding Saint Rose 40-36, the Yellow Jackets have outrebounded their opponents for the fifth time in the last six games.
• Junior guard Alyssa Guyon has now scored in double figures in 19 games this season, and also posted her seventh straight game in double figures.
• With six steals on Wednesday night, it marks the 20^th time this season that AIC has had at least six steals in a game.

NEXT UP:

• Needing to win their last two games of the regular season in effort to earn a spot in the Northeast-10 playoffs, the Yellow Jackets will look to get a victory when they go on the road on Saturday, February 17 to take on the University of New Haven for a 1:30 p.m. tipoff.

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.