MANCHESTER, New Hampshire - The American International College women's basketball team fell 72-66 to Southern New Hampshire University in a Northeast 10 Conference game on Sunday, January 4.

AIC is now 8-4 overall and 2-2 in NE10 play.

Although Keyvanna Bennett scored four points early in the first, the frame was dominated by the hosts, as the Penmen went on a 16-point run before Ahliya Phillips hit a three to snap the skid. AIC did level things out from there, and trailed by 14 at the end of one.

The Penmen continued to control the game into the second, and things looked bleak for AIC as a free throw with 3:30 to go put the home team ahead by 23 with a 38-15 advantage. However, the Yellow Jackets flipped a switch, beginning with five straight from Chelsea Reeves on a pair of free throws and a three, two Masha Andruschenko threes, and a Peyton Grant layup. The 13-2 run meant AIC faced a deficit of just 40-28 at the break.

Southern New Hampshire scored the first five out of the timeout, threatening to pull back out of reach, but again AIC answered; Ruzgar Christina Boyle notched a jumper, and then Bennett made two consecutive swipes, scoring herself on the first and then sending Reeves in on a break almost immediately after. An and-one one possession later for Reeves pulled AIC within single digits for the first time since the first quarter, and ultimately the team was down just 53-46 after three as Boyle knocked in a triple at the horn.

The Penmen were desperate to hang on, and for nearly eight minutes kept AIC down by five. Reeves was the key for the Yellow Jackets offense, scoring 16 of AIC's first 18 of the quarter to bring the team within two. AIC then forced a turnover, and stunningly the Yellow Jackets, down 68-66, had a chance to take the lead in a game that they once trailed by 23. A go-ahead three clanked off the front iron, however, and the Penmen snared the rebound, forcing AIC to foul; four free throws accounted for the final result.

Reeves ultimately had 18 of her 30 in the final period to lead all scorers on either side; she also grabbed even rebounds and three steals, while drawing nine fouls. Bennett scored 12 and narrowly missed a double-double with nine boards and five steals. Andruschenko scored 11 on four-of-five shooting. 

AIC continues conference play and returns to the Henry Butova Gymnasium for the first time in 2026 with a 5:30 p.m. NE10 matchup against Franklin Pierce University on Wednesday, January 7.