Six hit double figures as Women's Basketball bottles Lightning

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College women's basketball team continued its torrid start and filled the stats book with six players reaching double figures in an 88-67 win over Goldey-Beacom College on Sunday, December 10.

AIC is now 7-1 overall.

The Lightning rolled out to a quick 7-2 lead before Tia-Marie Martinez knocked in a three from a pass by Ruzgar Christina Boyle, and Briana Lee tied it on the next possession by finishing a layup from Kayla Robinson. Rhaymi Porter joined the scoring on the following possession to put AIC ahead, and AIC ultimately went on 18-7 run to lead 19-14 with an and-one by Kayla Robinson late. At the break, the Yellow Jackets were ahead 20-16.

The teams traded scores early in the second, with AIC's lead only at five after a three by the Lightning midway through. However, AIC was able to quickly stretch it to 10, thanks in part to four free throws hit by Nora Young and a pair of field goals by Martinez. Robinson capped the half with a layup at one end and then a steal on the final Lightning possession, giving AIC a 42-32 advantage at the break.

Goldey-Beacom hit two free throws to open the third, but the period belonged to AIC as the Yellow Jackets countered with a Boyle triple to spark an offensive explosion; Martinez sank a three and Lee put in a layup through contact for an and-one. The Yellow Jackets pushed the lead past 20 points shortly after on a Robinson jumper, and just kept hitting the net throughout, ending with a Young layup to lead by a 77-51 margin after the third. Lee scored 11 in the frame out of the 35, with AIC shooting a blistering 71.4 percent in the ten-minute stretch. 

The massive lead allowed AIC to empty the bench for the fourth, and Heaven Morris took full advantage of her playing time. She went 4-for-8 shooting with a three and an and-one, notching her first career 10-point game. The combination of her, Jada Bryant, Keyani Sidberry, Ahliya Phillips, and Madison Lopez all played more than eight minutes of the final ten, and combined to keep the Lightning to just 23.1 percent shooting and win 10 of the 16 rebounds to close out the 88-67 win.

Lee, Dobinson, Young, Martinez, Boyle, and Morris all crossed double digits in points, with Lee leading the game at 16. Martinez had six assists, while Robinson picked up five apples to go with five swipes. Lee also led the game in rebounds with seven. As a team, AIC shot 53.1 percent, including 56.8 percent from the starting five.

The Yellow Jackets close out the first half of the schedule on Tuesday, December 19 at Queens College with a 7:00 p.m. tipoff.