MANCHESTER, New Hampshire The 2019-20 season ended for the American International College women's basketball team with a 77-47 loss in the First Round of the Northeast-10 Conference Championship Tournament against Southern New Hampshire University on Friday, February 28.
FAST FACTS:
Final Score:SNHU 77, AIC 47
Record:AIC concludes the campaign at 8-21 overall, while the Penmen improve to 16-12 on the season
Location:Stan Spirou Field House, Manchester, New Hampshire
STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Rashana Siders: 17 points, 3-of-4 from three
Nadia Wooten: Three points
Oshinofa Lakoju: One point
SNHU:
Adriana Timberlake: 19 points, 4-of-4 from three
Victoria Dean: 16 points, six rebounds
Karlee Ziliak: 12 points, five rebounds
Molly Terry: 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- AIC opened the scoring as senior Rashana Siders hit a jumper from the right elbow; the Penmen responded, but Siders sank another shot to put her squad up 4-2 early. Junior Sara Guntin Barriero kept the run going with a layup. On the next possession, junior Nyrie Holliman answered a Penmen three with one of her own, bringing the score to 9-5, and two possessions later, junior Destine Perry put back a layup. With 5:54 to go in the frame, AIC had an 11-7 edge.
- Karlee Ziliak landed a three from the right side to cut AIC's lead to one point, and after missed free throws, Terry hit another from the left to give the Penmen a 13-11 edge. Ziliak knocked another one down two possessions later to keep the run going before Siders buried one of her own. She hit another after a Penmen basket to have 10 in the quarter and cut the deficit to 18-17. The last point of the frame was a SNHU free throw, giving the hosts a 19-17 edge after one.
- The Penmen went on a 4-0 run early in the second to build up a 23-17 lead, and hit a three after that to force an AIC timeout. The stoppage did not help the Yellow Jackets, as the Penmen knocked down another deep shot to build their advantage to 12 before junior Asia Turner cut the run with a mid-range jumper. Adriana Timberlake drained yet another triple on SNHU's next possession and then finished a runner in the lane to give the hosts a 34-19 edge late in the half.
- The next point in the game came on a Penman free throw, but junior Regine Blakney picked up AIC's offense with a long jumper. Two possessions later, however, Timberlake put in a corner three, and AIC could not score on the half's final possession, heading to the locker room down 38-21.
- AIC opened strong out of the break, as Holliman found Turner along the right side for an easy layup, but Roche put home an and-one on SNHU's next opportunity. Guntin Barriero was able to sink a runner in return, only to have Terry beat the shot clock with a corner three, and then Victoria Dean stole the ball and put in a fast break to give the Penmen a 21-point advantage. Siders found Turner under the hoop again for another layup, but again the Penmen sank a three, with Dean from the left side making it 49-27.
- Siders was able to sink a shot while being fouled and hit the free throw as well, and two AIC possessions later, rookie AJ Washington was able to get on the board. The offenses went quiet for some time thereafter until Dean laid in a fast break after a Terry steal with just under three minutes left in the third. Junior Jayla McDuffie swatted a Penman shot on SNHU's next possession, and senior Nadia Wooten turned it into a three at the other end to cut the Penmen lead to 53-36.
- The Penmen continued to score, with Dean putting back her own shot, and after three, the home team held a 58-39 edge.
- Shots at both ends missed to start the fourth before Perry and Timberlake exchanged layups. Siders buried a three for AIC to cut into the deficit, but Dean did the same at the other end to rebuild the lead, and made a layup several possessions later to put the Penmen ahead 65-44. A Ziliak three further added to the score, and she then hit a runner to force an AIC timeout with 5:41 remaining and the Penmen up 70-44. Perry sank a jumper out of the break to inch her side closer.
- The Penmen finished out the win, advancing to the NE10 Quarterfinal with a 77-47 victory.
1000 FOR SIDERS:
- Siders became the 23rd member of the 1000-point club for the women's basketball program with her three-point shot at 8:14 of the first quarter.
- Siders ultimately ended her career with 1009 points.
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
