SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College women's basketball team opened the postseason as the Yellow Jackets hosted Southern New Hampshire University in the first round of the Northeast-10 Championship Tournament on Friday, March 1.With five players in double figures, the Yellow Jackets easily dispatched the Penmen 79-55.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score: AIC 79, SNHU 55
Record: AIC moves to 16-13 overall while SNHU falls to 17-11 overall.
Location:ButovaGym - Springfield, Mass.

STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Dana Watts: 17 points, 13 rebounds, five assists
Dominique Boyd: 14 points, 11 rebounds, two steals
Alyssa Guyon: 16 points, two assists
Rashana Siders: 16 points, four rebounds, four assists
Destine Perry: 13 points, five rebounds, four assists

SNHU:
Gyanna Russell: 13 points
Kylie Lorenzen: 12 points, four rebounds
Brianna Camara: Nine points, six rebounds, four steals

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After dropping behind 2-0, the Yellow Jackets went on a 15-1 run to open up the first quarter. The run was sparked by junior guard Rashana Siders, who laid one in and drew a foul off of a pass from senior guard Alyssa Guyon. The Penmen broke an eight-minute drought when Victoria Dean nailed a three to double her team's score. After 10 minutes of play, the Yellow Jackets led 19-8.
• The Penmen came out and scored four points in the first two and a half minutes to make it a 23-12 game. AIC answered back with an 11-0 run to extend its lead to 21 points with under a minute to play in the half. The Penmen nailed two free throws before the break to make it a 36-15 game.
• While the Yellow Jackets kept their scoring pace up, the Penmen started to knock down shots. Despite the visiting team finding the bottom of the bucket, AIC extended its advantage to a game-high 31 late in the frame, and the Yellow Jackets ultimately outscored the Penmen 23-15 in the third to take a 57-30 lead headed into the final quarter.
• The Yellow Jackets continued to dominate, rebuilding their lead to 30 with a three by Siders with 5:45 remaining in regulation. The Penmen employed a press defense late and did outscore AIC in the frame, but it was too little, too late as the hosts sent the crowd home happy with their first NE10 Championship Tournament win since 2016.
  

MILESTONE WATCH:

• Watts is second in career points with 2,180 points, behind only Juana Garcia with 2,189.
• Watts is also behind only Garcia in rebounds. Watts is currently at 1,165 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 777 defensive boards for her career.
• Watts is currently third in AIC history for field goals made with 765, sitting behindSharmionSelman (827) and Garcia (894).
• Watts is in sole possession of the free throws made record with 619 in 117 games. Head coachKristen Hutchisonis second on the list with 511 made free throws in 120 games.
• Guyon moved into 17th all-time in program history in scoring with 1,074 points; she needs two points to pass Tiletia Council '94 for 16th.

NEXT UP:

• The Yellow Jackets will visit top-seeded and No. 13 Bentley on Sunday, March 3 for a 3p.m. tip-off in the Northeast-10 Championship Tournament Quarterfinal.

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