SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - A pair of double-doubles from the forward duo of Chelsea Reeves and Keyvanna Bennett helped the American International College women's basketball team sink Saint Michael's College 81-66 in Northeast 10 Conference play on Wednesday, January 21.

AIC is now 11-6 overall and 5-4 in the NE10.

Reeves opened the game up on a six-point run, with a field goal and four free throws. Just as quickly, the Purple Knights responded to tie the game over the next minute and a half, and the game went back-and-forth from there, with Reeves knocking down a three and then Ruzgar Christina Boyle scoring seven straight AIC points. Ultimately, AIC led 20-16 after one. 

In the second, the lead continued to fluctuate, and the Purple Knights tied the game twice late in the frame, taking the lead on a free throw with 44 seconds left. However, Reeves drew a late foul, and scored both to give AIC a 34-33 advantage after two.

It was Boyle who opened the scoring in the third, with back-to-back AIC buckets, helping the home side start to pull away. Bennett gave the Yellow Jackets their first double-digit lead with a layup from Reeves, and then Reeves knocked in a three on the next possession. The Purple Knights went over seven minutes without a field goal, though they did hit a buzzer beater three, but AIC still held a 59-48 lead after half an hour.

The Purple Knights used free throws to keep the game close early in the fourth, but Tia-Marie Martinez put in a two and a three, giving the Yellow Jackets a 66-52 advantage with 7:01 to play. Reeves and Bennett largely took care of things from there, combining for AIC's next 13 points in the eventual 81-66 win.

Reeves' 31 marked a high for her since joining AIC, and her 10 rebounds gave her a double-double. She shot 8-of-13 from the field, including 3-of-6 from deep, and went a perfect 12-of-12 at the free throw line, while also dishing five assists. Bennett likewise had a double-double, with 17 and 10; she shot 7-of-13, all inside the arc.

The pair had the first double-double duo for AIC women's basketball since March 1, 2019, when Dana Watts and Dominique Boyd broke the 10-10 barrier in a 79-55 NE10 First Round win over Southern New Hampshire University.

AIC next will face Saint Anselm College on Saturday, January 24 at 1:30 p.m. in Manchester, New Hampshire.