SPARKILL, New York The 2020-21 season opener for the American International College women's basketball team came on the road against Saint Thomas Aquinas College on Saturday, January 23. Back-to-back threes early in the fourth quarter helped the Yellow Jackets gain momentum to win their season opener 44-41.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score: AIC 44, STAC 41
Record:AIC moves to 1-0 on the year; STAC falls to 0-1
Location:Krause Fitness Center, Sparkill, New York

STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Destine Perry: 14 points, five rebounds, two assists
Kayla Robinson:Nine points
Kyla Smith: Four points, six rebounds
Jayla McDuffie: One point, eight rebounds

STAC:
Alexa Huertas: 13 points, four rebounds
Karol Jaruseviciute: Six points, five rebounds
Victoria Kurisko: Nine points, 13 rebounds, six assists

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Spartans scored their first points of the season with just a little over a minute and a half off the clock on a layup. AIC junior Kyla Smith drove to the basket on the next Yellow Jacket possession and drew a foul. She stepped up to the line and hit a pair to tie the game.
• Both squads shook some rust off in the first quarter as there was a six-minute scoring drought between both teams. The Spartans ended the opening frame on a 4-0 run to take an 8-2 lead after 10 minutes of play.
• Off an offensive rebound 27 seconds into the second quarter, senior Destine Perry drained AIC's first field goal of the season from deep to make it a one-possession game.
• Trailing 11-5, the Yellow Jackets found a spark with a jumper by senior Asia Turner off a pass from sophomore Kayla Robinson. Senior Nyrie Holliman drove to her left and on the way up was fouled. She stepped to the line and swished a pair to make it 11-9.
• After forcing a missed layup, graduate student Charee Osborne hit a shot from the right block to tie the game at 11.
• The home team answered with a 5-0 run that came to an end when senior forward Jayla McDuffie hit a free throw with 36 seconds left in the half. On the last AIC possession of the second quarter, Robinson drove to the basket for a layup to make it 16-14 game in favor of the Spartans at the break.
• Trailing 18-17 with 8:15 on the clock, Perry nailed her second triple of the game to give AIC its first lead of the season.
• With 5:57 left in the third and down two, AIC's Smith laid in the left-handed layup to knot the game at 22. On the next Yellow Jacket possession, Holliman found sophomore AJ Washington for a layup to take a two-point lead. The run continued as Washington stole an inbounds pass and went coast-to-coast and finished with a right-handed layup.
• The Spartans hit a jumper on the other end, but Perry matched it with one of her own to give AIC a 30-26 lead.
• With just over a minute left in the third, the Spartans took a one-point lead off a layup. Then the home team hit a jumper with 11 seconds on the clock and took a 33-30 lead into the final frame.
• With 60 seconds gone in the fourth, senior Sara Guntin-Barriero grabbed a defensive rebound and found Perry, who dribbled up the court and found Robinson in the left corner to a wide-open three. Déjà vu set in as a Yellow Jacket defensive round followed by an up-court pass by Perry led to another wide-open three, this time from the left wing off the hands of Holliman. This forced the Spartans to call a time out as they trailed 36-33.
• AIC led 39-35 as both teams went cold for almost two minutes. The streak was snapped by Bischoping on a three-pointer that made it a one-point game with 2:29 left in regulation.
• A minute and eight seconds later, Robinson caught a pass on the right wing and split two defenders on her way to the basket for a layup. The Spartans came down and nailed a three moments later to tie the game.
• On the next AIC possession, Perry drove the lane and drew a foul. She stepped up to the line and missed the first but nailed the second. The home team called a timeout to advance to the ball to mid-court. Despite the timeout, the Spartans turned the ball over. Perry crossed the timeline and the Spartans fouled with eight seconds left. Perry stepped up to the line, took a couple of deep breaths, and nailed both shots to give AIC a 44-41 lead with eight seconds left.
• The Spartans came down and tried to get a three-pointer off, but it was after the buzzer.

UP NEXT:

• The Yellow Jackets and Spartans will meet tomorrow, Sunday, January 24 at 2 p.m. in Butova Gym.
• Owing to continued restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, spectators are not permitted for home games; the game will be available to stream for free on the NE10 Now Network.

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