SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College women's basketball team lost a 79-71 Northeast-10 Conference decision to the University of New Haven on Saturday, December 7.
AIC is now 4-4 overall and 0-4 in the NE10.
Chelsea Reeves and Ruzgar Christina Boyle both hit early threes to give the Yellow Jackets a 6-2 advantage. The Chargers found their footing offensively after that, but AIC kept going, and ended with a six-point run capped by another Boyle triple to lead 20-12 at the first break.
New Haven drained the first field goal of the second, but Peyton Grant countered with a three set up by Rhaymi Porter, and another Grant deep shot shortly after expanded the AIC advantage to 26-14. Reeves countered a brief Chargers run with a two and a three of her own, but New Haven scored the final seven points of the half to go to the locker room down 33-28.
The Chargers continued to strike out of the break, scoring seven more to take a 35-33 lead and force an early AIC timeout. Lindsay Hogan kept it going for the Chargers after the stop with another three, though Boyle ended the run by draining one of her own off a feed from Grant. However, the Chargers drilled another set of threes, and then a pair of free throws to take a 46-36 edge with 4:50 left in the frame. Reeves put in three free throws on four attempts in the next two possessions, and Porter set up Boyle for yet another deep ball as the Yellow Jackets rallied to cut the deficit to four, but New Haven outscored the Yellow Jackets 11-3 down the stretch with three more triples to lead 57-45 heading into the final frame.
Both offenses were on fire in the final frame, with the Yellow Jackets scoring 26, including five straight by Porter in the final minute with a layup, steal, and and-one combination. However, the Chargers posted 22 of their own to hold off AIC for the 79-71 win.
Boyle, who made six threes, led the Yellow Jackets with 18 points; Keyvanna Bennett scored 16 with eight boards, while Reeves notched 13 points. Porter had an outstanding day all around, with nine points, eight rebounds, six assists, four blocks, and two steals.
AIC next faces Queens College on the road on Monday, December 9 at 5:00 p.m.
