SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College women's basketball team lost 62-56 in a heartbreaker to Stonehill College on Wednesday, January 9 in Northeast-10 Conference play.
FAST FACTS:
Final Score: Stonehill 62, ACU 56
Record: AIC moves to 8-7 overall and 3-4 in NE10 play, while Stonehill moves to 11-3 and 6-2 in NE10 action.
Location: Butova Gym - Springfield, Massachusetts
STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Points: Alyssa Guyon (21)
Assists: Rashanna Siders (4)
Rebounds: Dana Watts (15)
Stonehill:
Points: Grace Carter (23)
Assists: Grace Carter (4)
Rebounds: Kayla Raymond (6)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Both teams would miss the first six shots of the game before the Skyhawks got on the board with a layup two minutes into the game. 30 seconds later, Stonehill converted a three-pointer. Senior forward Dana Watts responded with a layup for the Yellow Jackets to trail 5-2. With 3:23 remaining in the first quarter, senior guard Dominique Boyd converted a pair of free throws, sparking an 8-0 run to close the frame up 13-9 at the end of one quarter.
Stonehill opened the second quarter with a three-pointer to tighten the AIC lead to just one-point, 13-12. AIC responded with a 10-0 run. Junior guard Rashanna Siders scored eight points during the run, burying a pair of threes and driving for a layup to build a 23-12 lead. With three seconds remaining in the half, Watts drew a foul and converted both free throws, giving AIC a 30-19 lead at the half.
On the opening possession of the second half, senior guard Alyssa Guyon forced a turnover and drilled a three to give AIC its biggest lead of the game, up 14 points, 33-19. Stonehill responded with a 7-0 run to trail AIC 33-26 with 7:27 remaining in the third quarter.
AIC built the lead back up to 10 after a three-pointer from Guyon, but the Skyhawks capped off a 15-5 run in the last 5:38 of the third quarter to tie the game at 44 heading into the last frame.
In the first two minutes of the final quarter, both teams exchanged buckets, but with 6:51 remaining, Stonehill knocked down a three to lead 51-46. Boyd and Siders added on four points for AIC to shorten the Skyhawks lead to just one with 5:06 left in the fourth. In the next 2:44 of action both teams played lock down defense, until Stonehill hit a three-pointer to give the Skyhawks a 54-50 lead. With 1:26 remaining in regulation, the Skyhawks extended their lead to six, 56-50.
Stonehill converted on free throws down the stretch, defeating AIC 62-56.
BUZZWORTHY:
Senior forward Dana Watts recorded her 1,000th career rebound as a Yellow Jacket.
Watts is 11 shy of passing Sharmion Selman (1,013) for third all-time.
MILESTONE WATCH:
Watts is currently third in AIC history for field goals made with 649, sitting behind Sharmion Selman (827) and Juana Garcia (894).
Watts is in sole possession of the free throws made record with 560 in just 103 games. Current AIC head coachKristen Hutchisonis second on the list with 511 made free throws in 120 games.
Watts is second in defensive rebounds with 673, behind Garcia, who holds the AIC record (726).
Watts is seventh all-time in offensive rebounds with 330, eighth in blocks with 118, and 11th in minutes played with 2,985.
NEXT UP:
The Yellow Jackets will host St. Michael's College on Saturday, January 12 at 1:30 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.
