Strong defense helps Women's Basketball beat New Haven

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut - The American International College women's basketball team held the University of New Haven to just 10.0 percent success from deep in a 60-50 Northeast-10 Conference win on Saturday, February 17.

AIC is now 13-12 overall with an 8-11 NE10 mark.

The Chargers scored the game's first basket, but Tia-Marie Martinez took a pass from Nora Young for a three to put AIC ahead in a quarter that belonged to the Yellow Jackets. A block by Rhaymi Porter set up Kayla Robinson to score the first of two field goals in a row for her, Briana Lee knocked in a field goal and two free throws, and Martinez closed the quarter with another triple as AIC led 18-12 at the first break.

The Chargers woke up in the second, starting with a 9-2 run to take the lead, but Martinez found Lee open on the next possession to take the lead back as AIC's leading scorer buried a triple. The teams traded baskets and the advantage down the stretch of the quarter, and Martinez hit the last layup with under a minute to go, sending AIC and New Haven to their locker rooms tied 27-27.

Lee came out firing in the third with two baskets to force a New Haven timeout, but AIC's run continued with a Young bucket from Robinson before the Chargers finally hit a three and followed with a two to close within one, and they took the lead a few possessions later, only to have AIC land back-to-back threes from Alicia Aznar Chamorro and AJ Washington to get back up by five. Ruzgar Christina Boyle put one through as well, and AIC led 44-38 at the 30-minute mark.

Needing to close out strong, AIC's captains came through as Young set up Robinson for the first bucket of the fourth, and then a swipe by Robinson allowed her to draw free throws that she hit to push the lead to double digits for the first time at 48-38. The Chargers never recovered, only drawing as close as within six, but the Yellow Jackets made shots and free throws down the stretch to finish off the critical conference victory.

Lee led the game with 19 points, while Robinson scored 14. Lee and Porter both grabbed seven rebounds, with Porter also collecting three blocks, and Martinez put together a strong line of eight points, six assists, and five boards.

AIC will next face Pace University on Wednesday, February 21 at 5:30 p.m.