PLEASANTVILLE, New York – The American International College women's basketball team saw strong performances out of its starting five in a 67-50 Northeast 10 Conference win at Pace University on Wednesday, January 28.
AIC is now 13-6 overall and 7-4 in the NE10.
Keyvanna Bennett opened the scoring on AIC's first possession, but nearly four minutes elapsed before the next bucket, a Tia-Marie Martinez three. The Setters opened their scoring on the next opportunity with an and-one, and went on a 9-2 run to take the lead.
AIC was able to counter, drawing fouls and making free throws, with Ahliya Phillips and Chelsea Reeves each hitting a pair, and though a deep shot briefly restored Pace's edge, Peyton Grant knocked down one of her own. The Setters tied it again, but Martinez beat the buzzer with a runner in the lane to give AIC a 16-14 edge after one.
After the Setters tied the game again on their first possession of the second, Bennett answered by getting loose in the paint for a jumper. Bennett then swiped the ball away several possessions later, and ultimately Martinez was able to knock in a three to force a Pace timeout. It was to little avail, as Bennett kept the hot streak going, and then Reeves swiped the ball, setting up Ruzgar Christina Boyle on a two-on-one to give AIC a 10-point lead and draw another Pace timeout with 5:19 left in the second.
Boyle was the next scorer out of the stoppage, sinking a long jumper. Pace finally broke the run two possessions later on free throws, but Reeves scored her first field goal of the game, a shot from deep. Bennett then extended the lead to 15 with a layup off glass. Pace made the last shot of the quarter, leaving AIC ahead 33-20 after two.
Both teams came up empty early in the third, before Boyle nailed a three from deep on the right side. Pace countered with a long shot of its own, but the next bucket was Martinez, splashing a three from the left. AIC built the lead to 20 one possession later, with Bennett winning a battle under the net for a rebound and scoring a putback.
Pace was able to keep in the game with a pair of threes that bookended an Eden Monka layup, and chipped away to within 12 on a late run; AIC was up 49-37 after 30 minutes.
Bennett opened the fourth with a layup, and Reeves followed with free throws to help AIC pull away again. The run accelerated with a Boyle three from Martinez, and a takeaway in the paint by Monka drew Pace's third timeout with 6:58 to go and AIC leading 56-37.
The Setters countered a Bennett layup with a three, but Monka drew contact on a shot attempt and hit both free throws to restore AIC to a 20-point lead, adding two more on the following possession by making a shot in the paint. Both teams emptied the benches from there, and AIC closed it out, winning 67-50.
Bennett had a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, adding a career-high six steals. Reeves notched 14 points and four assists, while Martinez scored 11 and Boyle added 10. Monka was also impressive with eight points, seven boards, and three helpers.
AIC next returns home to face Southern New Hampshire University in an NE10 contest on Saturday, January 31 at 1:30 p.m.
