SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College women's basketball team built a double-digit lead late in the second quarter and held on for a 67-54 victory over Le Moyne College on Saturday, February 3.
FAST FACTS:
Final Score:AIC 67, Le Moyne 54
Location:Butova Gymnasium, Springfield, Massachusetts
Records:AIC improves to 10-14 and 4-12 in Northeast-10 Conference play; while Le Moyne falls to 14-8 and 10-6 in NE10 action.
STATS LEADERS:
AIC:
Alyssa Guyon: 18 points, eight rebounds two blocks, two steals
Dana Watts: 15 points, 11 rebounds
Rashana Siders: 15 points, 7-of-8 from the free throw line
Le Moyne:
Gabriella Badway: 12 points
McKayla Roberts: 10 points
Joanaa Dobrovosky: Nine points, eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Junior forward Alyssa Guyon started off the game red hot as she scored the team's first seven points, giving the Yellow Jackets the early 7-0 lead and causing a Le Moyne timeout. After the Dolphins scored four quick points, AIC answered right back with a three-pointer from junior forward Dana Watts. At the 2:13 mark of the first quarter, junior guard Jayda Gilmore made a jumper to extend the Yellow Jacket lead to 14-6.
- After Joanna Dobrovosky made a jumper to cut the lead to seven points, sophomore guard Rashana Siders drained a shot from beyond the arc to put the AIC lead at double digits at 19-9. Minutes later, three consecutive points from Gilmore gave the Yellow Jackets a 25-11 advantage with 5:38 remaining before halftime. Up 25-13 at the 2:16 mark, AIC finished out the quarter on a 7-0 run and had a 32-13 cushion going into the break.
- Capped off by a three from Watts, the Yellow Jackets went on yet another 7-0 run to start the third quarter and increase their lead to 26 points at the 6:54 mark. With 2:38 left in the third quarter, Guyon converted on a layup in the paint to bring the AIC lead back to 26. The Dolphins then closed out the quarter by going on a 9-0 run to be down just 49-32.
- The comeback for Le Moyone would continue in the third quarter when they went on a 5-0 run to cut the AIC lead to 12 points. A layup from Guyon at the 7:38 mark of the fourth quarter stopped the Dolphins run. On the next possession for AIC, its lead was extended to 16 with layup from freshman guard Ishanna Brown. With 3:30 left in regulation, McKayla Roberts made a layup to bring Le Moyne within 11 points.
- In the final minutes, the two teams would trade baskets, as Watts made a jumper to make it 60-47. On the next possession, the Dolphins got a layup from Gabriella Badway to bring the lead back down to 11 points. At the 1:23 mark of the fourth quarter, Le Moyne cut the AIC lead to 10 points with a three-pointer from Ellie Leszyk. The Yellow Jackets made all five of their free throws down the stretch and hung on for a 67-54 victory.
GAME NOTES:
- With an 11-rebound performance against the Dolphins, Watts is now tied for sixth place in that category in program history.
- Watts started the season in 19thplace in scoring in program history. She has jumped up to fifthplace and is just 27 points behind her coach, Kristen Hutchison, for fourth place.
- For the third time in the last four games, the Yellow Jacket outrebounded their opponents.
- Sharing is caring for the Yellow Jackets, as AIC has recorded 13-plus assists in 11 games this season.
- Guyon has now scored in double figures in 17 games this season, and also posted her fifth straight game in double figures.
NEXT UP:
- AIC will continue their homestand with an NE10 matchup against Southern Connecticut State University for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff on Tuesday, February 6 in Butova Gym.
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.
