COLCHESTER, Vermont - The American International College women's basketball team came up short in a 74-66 Northeast-10 Conference contest against Saint Michael's College on Tuesday, January 28.

AIC is now 10-11 overall with a 3-10 NE10 mark.

Although the Purple Knights rushed to a 6-2 lead, AIC bounced back with Chelsea Reeves hitting a shot and then setting Ruzgar Christina Boyle up for three. The lead changed hands several times, including on another Boyle triple, before the hosts pulled away somewhat. AIC kept it close, however, and Boyle found Sarai Gurley on an inbound pass with less than a second to go, with Gurley tipping it in to keep AIC's deficit to 22-18 through one.

The second frame saw AIC close the gap several times, only for the Purple Knights to bounce back with key shots; Keyvanna Bennett shrank the lead to 31-28 on a putback jumper, only for Ruby Santos to strike for three for Saint Michael's. At the half, AIC trailed 37-30.

Out of the break, Saint Michael's quickly expanded its lead to 10 points, though Boyle quickly countered with a three. The Purple Knights were able to pull ahead by as much as 14, although an 8-2 AIC run late cut into that gap. Four straight free throws reestablished the host team's double-digit edge, which was exactly 10, 60-50, as Boyle finished the period with a jumper for the Yellow Jackets.

AIC fought valiantly in the fourth, trimming the deficit to just four late in the contest, but the Yellow Jackets had to foul to extend the game, and the Purple Knights hit their free throws for the 74-66 result.

Boyle led the game with 20 points, while Bennett notched 16 with nine rebounds, and Reeves scored 11. Ahliya Phillips put in nine points and snagged six boards. 

AIC returns to action after an off weekend on Wednesday, February 5 at 5:30 p.m. against Adelphi University. At halftime of that contest, the athletic department will honor the 2024 NE10 Champion women's volleyball team.