Women's Basketball battles in loss to Pace

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College women's basketball team lost a 59-52 decision in Northeast-10 Conference play against Pace University on Saturday, January 13.

AIC is now 9-5 overall and 4-5 in the NE10.

Briana Lee scored the first two field goals of the game, set up by Kayla Robinson and Nora Young respectively, and forced the Setters into an early timeout. Lee added to the lead out of the stoppage with two free throws, but Pace finally adjusted and scored its first points. Ruzgar Christina Boyle hit some jump shots, helping AIC stay on top 10-8 at the first break.

The second was back-and-forth early, and after Boyle sank another jumper, Mackenzie Koch hit a three to give Pace its first lead, 15-14. Tia-Marie Martinez countered with one of her own, and the teams kept trading the advantage until late in the frame when Shanice Sinclair hit a jumper to build Pace's lead to 23-19. By halftime, that edge was 25-22.

Pace began to pull away in the third, scoring the first four points and keeping AIC without a field goal for the first four minutes, but it was a splash as Boyle knocked in a three off of a pass from AJ Washington to get AIC back within four. The teams continued to trade buckets, but Pace hit a few more and led 45-36 at the final stoppage.

In the fourth, the Setters were content with going shot for shot, keeping the advantage between seven and 10 for most of the period. AIC did close within four with 19 seconds to go on a Lee triple from Robinson, but the Setters hit their free throws to seal the 59-52 win.

Lee and Boyle tied for the game's high scoring with 15 points each; Lee also collected five boards and five steals. Young scored six points and added four rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Incredibly, AIC won the turnover battle 20-4.

The Yellow Jackets will look to rebound against Saint Michael's College on Tuesday, January 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the Butova Gym.