Women's Basketball falls just short against Saint Rose

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College women's basketball team fell 46-45 to The College of Saint Rose in a Northeast-10 Conference matchup on Wednesday, January 3.

AIC is now 8-3 overall and 3-3 in the NE10.

The first quarter was a struggle offensively; the Yellow Jackets put up a dozen shots, but only one, a Tia-Marie Martinez jumper from Nora Young, went through the hoop. That allowed the Golden Knights to cruise to a 16-3 lead at the first break as Saint Rose went on a 9-0 run over the final 5:53.

In the second, Rhaymi Porter and Kayla Robinson both started hitting shots. The duo accounted for all 11 of AIC's points in the frame, but the Yellow Jackets were staring at a 26-14 deficit as they headed to the locker room.

Longtime Head Coach Kristen Hutchison had a plan of attack to bring AIC back into the match in the third, and her team executed. The Yellow Jackets played an incredibly aggressive defensive style that frustrated the Golden Knights, and in the first 1:58 the gap had shrunk to just three as AIC opened on an 8-0 run in that span, capped by Ruzgar Christina Boyle sinking her first three of the game. Martinez cut it to one shortly after with a jumper, and just past the midpoint of the quarter, a jumper by Briana Lee gave AIC a 30-29 edge with 4:33 to play in the frame. Saint Rose was forced to burn a timeout, but was able to adjust and regain the advantage, with a 38-36 margin heading into the final period of play.

AIC's defense continued to hamper Saint Rose's attack, and the teams traded the lead back and forth; AJ Washington drained a three with 4:07 to play to put AIC up one, and after a Saint Rose basket, Porter knocked a shot in with 2:10 to play to give AIC a 45-44 edge. Unfortunately, that was the last field goal AIC made and a pair of free throws with 21 seconds to play ultimately was the deciding factor with the Golden Knights sneaking away with a 46-45 victory.

Robinson had a game-high 15 points as well as a trio of steals, while Porter collected a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. 

The team returns to action Saturday, January 6 at 1:30 p.m. with a matchup against the University of New Haven.