Women's Basketball uses steals, stops to knock off Queens

QUEENS, New York - The American International College women's basketball team collected 17 steals and held Queens College under 30 percent shooting to win 60-45 on Tuesday, December 19.

AIC is now 8-1 on the season.

Both teams scored in bunches early, as AIC led 8-6 less than 2:30 in thanks in part to two early buckets by Rhaymi Porter. The Yellow Jackets built on that quickly, using a run that included a Ruzgar Christina Boyle triple to score eight straight. She hit another before the quarter closed, although the Knights cut the deficit back to 17-12 at the stoppage.

Queens pulled within three early in the second, but the Yellow Jackets found an answer, as Nora Young knocked down two shots before setting Boyle up for another from deep to build AIC's advantage to 10. Boyle and Kayla Robinson each took advantage of steals to add further scoring, with Robinson finishing through contact and completing the and-one to give AIC a 33-18 edge at halftime.

AIC put it into cruise control for the third, with Briana Lee picking up three points and four boards in the frame to keep the advantage at 15 heading into the fourth.

The Knights made one last desperate push in the final stanza, getting to within eight, but the Yellow Jackets put the game away over the final five, holding Queens to one field goal of their last night attempts late, while hitting seven of their last eight to win 60-45.

Boyle led AIC with 16 points; Lee added 12 and Robinson 11. Lee's 11 boards gave her a double-double, while Porter led the team with 12 to go with her eight points and four blocks. Robinson matched her career high with eight steals in the contest. Young and Martinez each contributed six points and four rebounds, with Martinez also leading the game with five assists.

AIC returns to action with one final 2023 matchup, visiting Assumption University on December 30 at 1:30 p.m. for a Northeast-10 Conference game.