Strong start helps Women's Basketball past Adelphi

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College women's basketball team built a 14-point halftime lead and held on for a 68-64 win over Adelphi University in Northeast-10 Conference play on Saturday, January 27.

AIC is now 11-8 overall and 6-7 in the NE10.

Rhaymi Porter opened the game by scoring on the first possession, and AIC built to an 8-0 lead with four points from Briana Lee before Adelphi scored. Though the Panthers then also hit a three to cut into the deficit, Ruzgar Christina Boyle and Kayla Robinson hit shots in response, and the Yellow Jackets ultimately led 14-7 after one.

The offenses picked up in the second as Ahliya Phillips knocked in a three to start the frame. The teams traded free throws early, before Boyle bookended a Lee layup with two of her own. She then drilled a triple, expanding AIC's lead to 29-13. Nora Young also got into the scoring down the stretch, with Boyle scoring another three before the break to help AIC lead 34-20 at the stoppage.

Scoring continued early in the third, with both teams making shots, including a Robinson triple and then a steal that Lee finished on a putback. However, the Panthers went on a late run, outscoring AIC 12-5 down the stretch to cut the AIC advantage to just seven at the final break.

AIC needed to keep the Panthers at bay in the fourth, and Robinson and Lee helped ensure that with an early two and three respectively. Lee in particular seemed to have an answer for every Adelphi score, but it was a Boyle three with 1:05 left when Adelphi had pulled within one that really put things on ice. She then added three free throws for the final margin of victory, and the game ended for certain with a Porter swipe on the last Adelphi possession.

Boyle led the game with 22, while Lee dominated both ends with an 18-14 double-double. Robinson scored 16 to round out the win.