Women's Basketball Drops Nail-Biter at No. 17 Southern Connecticut
New Haven, Conn. - The American International College women's basketball team dropped to 8-6 on the season and 5-5 in the Norhteast-10 after a 58-56 loss at 17-th-ranked and defending national champion Southern Connecticut Saturday afternoon. The Owls improved to 12-4 overall and 8-3 in conference play. Senior forward Alexis Castro (Chula Vista, Calif.) led the Yellow Jackets with 21 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high six assists.
Southern Connecticut took a two-point lead with 10 seconds left in the game after senior guard Michelle Martinik (Monroe, Conn.) went one for two at the free throw line. AIC went for the win on its final possession, but Castro missed an open 3-pointer and the Yellow Jackets were unable to gain control of the rebound as time expired.
Senior forward Kate Lynch (Rumford, R.I.) scored a game-high 25 points with four assists and three rebounds to lead Southern Connecticut. Senior forward Rochelle Johnson (Norwalk, Conn.) added eight points and nine boards.
Junior forward Stacy Boisvert (Agawam, Mass.) added 13 points and four rebounds for AIC. Senior center Jen Nnanna (Somerset, N.J.) scored nine points with seven rebounds and three blocked shots off the bench.
The Yellow Jackets trailed by three at halftime, despite shooting 53.3 percent (8-15) from the field and 83.3 percent (5-6) from the free throw line, but opened the second half with a 9-3 run to take a 30-27 lead 3:12 into the period.
The two teams traded the lead several times throughout the rest of the game and the Owls regained the lead for good when Lynch made a basket as she was fouled with 1:22 left in the contest. She hit the free throw that followed to give Southern Connecticut a 56-54 lead.
AIC outshot the Owls in the game; shooting 46.2 percent (18-39) from the floor and 76.9 percent (20-26) from the free throw line. Southern Connecticut shot just 32.8 percent (20-61) from the floor and 71.4 percent (15-21) from the free throw line. The Yellow Jackets also outrebounded the Owls 41-31.
AIC next travels to Stonehill Wednesday for a 5:30 p.m.
Northeast-10 contest.