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66
Mercyhurst Mercy 6-3,0-0 PSAC
69
Winner American Int'l AIC 3-0,0-0 NE10
Mercyhurst Mercy
6-3,0-0 PSAC
66
Final
69
American Int'l AIC
3-0,0-0 NE10
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 OT 1 F
Mercyhurst Mercy 15 12 20 11 8 66
American Int'l AIC 23 10 15 10 11 69

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Smith, Perry each score 26 in thrilling women's basketball win

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts A deep three pointer in overtime by junior guard Kyla Smith lifted the No. 24 American International College women's basketball team to a 69-66 win over Mercyhurst University on Saturday, January 30.



FAST FACTS:
Final Score: No. 24 AIC 69, Mercyhurst 66
Record:The Yellow Jackets reach 3-0 to start the year, while the Lakers fall to 6-3.
Location:Henry Butova Gymnasium, Springfield, Massachusetts

STAT LEADERS:
No. 24 AIC:
Kyla Smith: 26 points, four rebounds, game winning three with 1.4 seconds remaining in overtime
Destine Perry: 26 points, seven rebounds, 9-of-11 from the free throw line
Jayla McDuffie: two points, 10 rebounds

Mercyhurst
Jayda Boyd: 19 points, eight rebounds, 5-of-6 from the free throw line
Meghan Komendarek: 15 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, 10-of-12 from the free throw line
Emily Shopene: seven points, 10 rebounds, four assists

HOW IT HAPPENED:
  • Off the tip, the Lakers gained possession on the AIC side of the court and laid in a shot to take the lead four seconds into the game. A jumper by senior Jayla McDuffie and a pair at the charity stripe by freshman Nora Young gave AIC a 4-2 lead.
  • Trailing 10-9, AIC started to get hot as senior Nyrie Holliman found the bottom of the net. Player of the game junior Kyla Smith hit a three in transition to give AIC a four-point lead. Right before the end of the of the first, senior guard Destine Perry hit a free throw and gave AIC a 23-15 lead after one.
  • In the first minute of the second quarter, three baskets were scored, two of which favored AIC. The Yellow Jackets led 30-19 when the Lakers started to control the flow of the game. Over the last 6:51 of the first half, they went on an 8-3 run to cut their deficit to six, 33-27, at the break.
  • The Lakers kept rolling to start the second half as they cut the AIC lead down to three points in the first minute and a half. A three and a pair of free throws by Perry slowed the Lakers down.
  • With 3:30 in the third, Komendarek hit a three to tie the game at 45. Thanks to a pair of free throws late in the quarter by Perry, the Yellow Jackets led 48-47.
  • The fourth quarter had both teams on the edge of their seats with nine lead changes or ties. With under five minutes left in regulation, senior Asia Turner hit a jumper to tie the game at 54. The Lakers broke the tie a minute later on a layup from Komendarek.
  • With 1:43 on the clock Smith cut off a backscreen by senior Sara Guntin Barriero that left her wide open for an easy layup to tie the game at 54. Laker Shopene stepped to the line for a pair of free throws with her team up one. She swished the first but missed the second as AIC got the rebound and called a timeout to move the ball up the court with 22.2 seconds left.
  • Out of the timeout, Smith came right to left off the Guntin Barriero screen, drove to the basket and shot a running layup to tie the game with 20 seconds left. By scoring early, the Yellow Jackets knew they had to defend without fouling. The Lakers got a shot off in the paint with a second on the clock, but it was no good and the teams headed into overtime.
  • Mercyhurst went up 61-58 in the first 20 seconds thanks to two AIC fouls that led to free throws. Smith's hand continued to be hot in the paint as she cut it to a one-point game with a left-handed layup with 4:16 remaining.
  • With 2:18 on the clock, Perry found her back to the basket and turned over her left shoulder to give AIC the 62-61 lead. A pair of free throws by Perry gave AIC a three-point lead with 1:21 remaining. Boyd kept the Lakers in the game with a three from the right wing to tie the game.
  • Perry nailed another jumper to put AIC up two with 34 seconds on the clock. The Lakers were aggressive and drew a foul. Boyd stepped up to the line and nailed both, tying the game again.
  • AIC called a timeout and advanced the ball to half court. Smith took the inbound pass, and, coming off a screen to her left, she met a hard hedge and was forced away from the basket. As the hedge defender retreated back to her matchup, Smith used the space to nail a three with 1.4 seconds left. The Lakers tried to get a clean look on the last possession, but the Yellow Jackets shut that down and took the 69-66 overtime victory.
PLAYER CORNER:


COACH'S CORNER:


UP NEXT:
  • AIC will host Mercyhurst on Sunday, January 31 at noon.
  • 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 theNE10 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

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