SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College women's basketball team defeated Queens College 80-51 on Saturday, December 20, thanks to scoring surges from several players and then a dominating fourth quarter.

AIC is now 8-3 on the season.

Tia-Marie Martinez opened the game with a three, but Queens responded with an and-one to tie the game on the next possession. The Yellow Jackets pulled away briefly thanks in part to another triple by Martinez and points from Chelsea Reeves, and though the Knights tried to keep the game close, AIC began pulling away down the stretch, as Ahliya Phillips made a layup and Ruzgar Christina Boyle scored seven points late to put AIC ahead 25-12 after one.

Queens opened the second with a three, but Boyle answered with one of her own. AIC built up its lead to 35-18 with Martinez's third triple, followed by a Reeves layup. The Knights were able to close the gap to single digits, though the Yellow Jackets did not allow them to close to within less than nine; that was the lead at halftime, as AIC held a 40-31 advantage.

The Knights scored first again to start the third, but Bennett had the answer with an and-one, sparking a furious run by the reigning NE10 Rookie of the Year, who single-handedly outscored the Knights 11-5 over the first five minutes of the frame; Phillips was the first player other than Bennett to hit a field goal for AIC, and the co-captain's free throw in the final second of the period gave AIC a 56-45 lead.

With victory in sight, the Yellow Jackets put on a clinic in the final 10 minutes. Bennett knocked in two shots, and Eden Monka hit a layup off of a Bennett steal, and the lead grew from there with a pair of Boyle threes. AIC was now up 19, and though the Knights hit a field goal on the next possession, they did not score again thereafter. AIC did, however, ending the game on a 12-0 run that included a Jada Bryant and-one and five straight from Sarai Gurley to close the 80-51 win.

As a team, AIC was 30-of-61 shooting, including 8-of-20 from beyond the arc. Boyle led the game with 22 points, while Bennett notched 19, and Reeves and Martinez each had 11. Bennett and Reeves each led AIC with six assists.

AIC will not return to action this year, as the next game is slated for January 4, 2026 at Southern New Hampshire University. Tipoff is 1:30 p.m.