NEW HAVEN, Connecticut - Last season, Tia-Marie Martinez could only watch from the bench as Southern Connecticut State University hit a half-court three-point shot in overtime to steal a game from the American International College women's basketball team at the Henry Butova Gymnasium.

This time around, she could do something about the outcome.

The graduate guard nailed a last-second three from the right side to give the Yellow Jackets a 69-68 win over the Owls on Wednesday, November 19, improving AIC to 3-0 on the young season.

AIC had an inbound on its bench side with just over nine seconds left and nearly lost the ball thanks to strong defense by the Owls, but it went out off the baseline, giving AIC a second chance. Martinez kicked it in to Chelsea Reeves on the right side, who had a shot blocked but recovered the rebound. With two defenders on her and nowhere else to go, she fired it out beyond the arc to Martinez, who had been left uncovered. Her shot sailed through the mesh, sparking a celebration as the team mobbed her.

The opening quarter of play was a high-scoring affair, as the Owls scored the first five points before Reeves hit a layup to put AIC on the board. Reeves also later hit a three that put AIC ahead for the first time, 13-11, just before the midpoint of the frame, and from there it was largely Ruzgar Christina Boyle who led the way, with 12 straight AIC points including a pair of deep shots. AIC ultimately led 28-25 after one.

The back-and-forth continued in the second as the lead changed hands four times in the frame. Reeves was responsible for nine of the 14 AIC points in the quarter, including the two free throws at the end that sent the Yellow Jackets to the locker room up 42-40.

Southern Connecticut kicked their offense into gear in the third and again gained the lead, and though AIC was able to counter, thanks in part to a Sarai Gurley triple, the home squad led by two heading into the final frame. That lead bloomed to six early in the fourth before Martinez knocked in a three, Boyle sank a two, and Keyvanna Bennett made two straight shots to put AIC back ahead.

The Owls responded to regain the lead, up 66-64 in the final minute. Martinez made two free throws, but Taeya Steinauer hit a shot with just over nine seconds ahead on the penultimate play of the game, setting the stage for AIC's walk-off winner.

Reeves led the game with 21 points, while Boyle and Martinez each had 14. Eden Monka pulled in eight boards to top the squad.

AIC heads to Felician University to continue its season-opening road trip with a 1:00 p.m. tipoff on Saturday, November 22.