Martinez the hero as Women's Basketball clinches home playoff game

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - Down one with under thirty seconds to play, Tia-Marie Martinez hit the biggest shot of the season for the American International College women's basketball team, splashing a three to give the Yellow Jackets a 65-63 win over Saint Anselm College on Saturday, February 24, clinching a home game in the first round of the upcoming Northeast-10 Conference Championship.

AIC improves to 14-13 overall and 9-12 in the NE10.

The game started poorly for the Yellow Jackets, who fell behind early in the first quarter thanks in part to a six-point Hawks run. Melanie Hoyt led the charge for the visitors, scoring 10 points before the frame ended as she shot 4-of-7 in the quarter, while AIC as a team went 3-of-17. At the first stoppage, the Hawks led 16-8.

In the second, the trend continued early, as the Hawks lead ballooned to 16 midway through on a bucket by Liv Robles just past the midpoint. With Saint Anselm ahead 28-12, the Yellow Jackets looked in danger of being routed on their senior day. However, the team turned the tide down the stretch. Briana Lee, Ruzgar Christina Boyle, Martinez, and Rhaymi Porther each hit key shots, with Boyle and Martinez landing from deep, and Kayla Robinson beat the buzzer with a layup to bring AIC within seven at the break, trailing 36-29. 

The third quarter went back-and-forth, with the Hawks lead varying from between two and nine points as the teams traded runs. Lee led the way for AIC with nine points in the frame to counter eight by Hoyt, and AIC outscored the Hawks 18-15 to close the gap to 51-47.

With the game now in their sights, AIC pounced. Martinez started the fourth with a bucket, and Robinson followed by drilling a layup through heavy contact, completing the and-one to push AIC up 52-51 with 8:46 to go, the first Yellow Jacket lead of the day. The Hawks answered, pushing back ahead by as much as eight, but AIC had more in the tank and pulled back within one with just over a minute to go as Robinson hit key shots once more.

AIC trailed 63-62 with just over 30 to play, and fouled. The Hawks missed both, setting up the key moment. Nora Young made the key pass, finding Martinez for the open look on the right side of the key, and the junior buried it with just over 20 to play. AIC made one more stop, forcing a bad shot and grabbing the rebound to hang on to the win.

AIC spread the offense; Lee led the way with 16, while Robinson knocked in 14, Boyle 13, and Martinez 10; Young dished out five helpers, while Lee led AIC with eight rebounds. Porter swatted away three shots and had two swipes in the win.

The Yellow Jackets close the 2023-24 regular season with a visit to Saint Michael's College on Tuesday, February 27 at 5:30 p.m.