SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College women's basketball team lost for the first time in February to the University of New Haven 55-52 on Saturday, February 23.
FAST FACTS:
Final Score: New Haven 55, AIC 52
Record: AIC drops to 15-12 overall and 10-9 in the NE10, while New Haven improves to 15-11 overall and 810 in NE10 action.
Location: Butova Gym - Springfield, Mass.
STAT LEADERS:
AIC
Points: Dana Watts (17)
Assists: Rashana Siders (6)
Rebounds: Dana Watts (7)
New Haven
Points: Alexandra Kerr (21)
Assists: Brie Pergola (4)
Rebounds: Micah Wormack (17)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
At the 9:16 mark of the first quarter, senior forward Dana Watts converted on the layup to score AIC's first two points of the game. Watts proceeded to knock down another layup and a free throw, scoring the Yellow Jackets first five points and made it a 5-2 game.
After one quarter the Yellow Jackets led New Haven 18-12 after Watts hit a layup at the buzzer.
With AIC up 20-15 early in the second quarter, the Chargers sparked a 10-0 run, leading the Yellow Jackets by five points with 3:22 remaining in the half.
The Yellow Jackets went cold in the second quarter, scoring just four points, trailing New Haven 30-22 at the half.
At the start of the second half, AIC went on a quick 5-0 run, capped off with a three-pointer from senior forward Alyssa Guyon to make it 30-27. New Haven responded by growing their lead to nine points with five minutes remaining in the third.
AIC clawed their way back into the game when freshman guard Zoe Willis buried a three-pointer with under a minute remaining in the third, and the Yellow Jackets ended the third period trailing New Haven, 44-40.
In the first minute of action in the fourth, Guyon knocked down a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to two.
Both teams began exchanging buckets in the final quarter. Just inside two minutes left in the fourth, Guyon drilled a jumper to make it a one-possession game, but both teams failed to find another field goal for the next1:22. The Chargers scored on one of two free throws to push their lead to four with 18 seconds left on the clock, forcing AIC to call a timeout.
Fresh out of the timeout, senior guard Dominique Boyd found Watts for a layup to cut the Chargers lead to two points with 16 seconds to go.
The Yellow Jackets fouled with 14 seconds remaining, and New Haven converted just one of two free throws, giving AIC a chance to force overtime.
After the made free throw from the Chargers, Watts tossed up a three for a chance to tie the game at 55, but she was unable to convert, and New Haven walked away with the win, 55-52.
MILESTONE WATCH:
Watts is second in career points with 2,152 points, behind only Juana Garcia with 2,189.
Watts is also behind only Garcia in rebounds. Watts is currently at 1,139 career rebounds, while Garcia sits on the top with 1,223.
Watts passed Garcia earlier this season for the program's record for defensive rebounds with 758 defensive boards for her career.
Watts is currently third in AIC history for field goals made with 732, sitting behind Sharmion Selman (827) and Garcia (894).
Watts is in sole possession of the free throws made record with 590 in 112 games. Head coach Kristen Hutchison is second on the list with 511 made free throws in 120 games.
NEXT UP:
The Yellow Jackets will compete in their last game of the season as they take on Adelphi University on Tuesday, February 26 at 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday night's game will be senior night for three Yellow Jackets.
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