Women's basketball edges past Queens

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College women's basketball team hung on for a 57-55 victory in a nonconference game against Queens College on Tuesday, January 24.

AIC is now 12-8 on the season and remains 8-4 in the Northeast-10 Conference.

The Yellow Jackets came out hot, with Tia-Marie Martinez knocking down a three and setting up Kayla Robinson for another, and then dishing to Taylor Tomlinson for a driving layup that put AIC up 8-0 before the Knights hit their first basket. Tomlinson added another jumper, set up again by Martinez, but AIC's offense slowed from there, with just one basket in the next 4:58, an Ahliya Phillips basket, but Phillips also ended the drought with a swipe, then set up Robinson for a deep shot to give AIC a 17-12 lead with 1:02 left. The two teams traded field goals in the final minute, leaving AIC ahead by five after one period of play.

Neither team scored from the field in the opening two minutes of the second before Martinez swiped the ball and scored a breakaway layup. Another Martinez steal led to another AIC basket a few possessions later, as she set up Rosa Vreugd for two, and then knocked down a jumper of her own. Nora Young also began to have an impact, hitting a free throw, draining a basket, and setting up another down the stretch, helping AIC to a 35-28 halftime lead.

The third quarter did not go AIC's way. Phillips had three points and Julia Carbonell Munoz hit a two, but the Yellow Jackets gave up seven at the line and fifteen overall as their lead melted away, and they headed into the fourth down by three.

In the fourth, Queens extended the lead to as much as six before AIC began chipping away. Robinson made two free throws before Young nailed a pair of baskets for a 6-0 run to tie the game at 48-48. The Knights answered back with four straight, but the Yellow Jackets had another run in them, as Tomlinson, Carbonell Munoz, and Robinson each landed shots to give AIC back the lead, 54-53. Queens missed on the next trip down the floor and AIC capitalized, with Young putting in a bucket with under half a minute to play. The Knights pulled within one thanks to free throws, but could not get the last point, and a Robinson free throw in the final moments put the 57-55 win away.

Robinson's 17 was a game-high; Tomlinson had eight points but a game-best 13 boards, while Young scored nine points with five rebounds, Phillips scored seven with six boards, and Martinez rang up seven points and five assists.

AIC returns to action Saturday, January 28 against Saint Michael's College in NE10 play. It will be a Suits and Sneakers Game as part of the annual Coaches vs. Cancer Week.