Women's Basketball

January 26, 2010

Women's Basketball Knocks Off American International, 64-54


Box score: http://www.smcathletics.com/sports/wbkb/2009-10/stats/waicstm.htm

Photos: http://www.shanebufano.com/saint-michaels-college/womens-basketball/smcvsaic12610wb.html

COLCHESTER, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College women's basketball team (6-11, 4-10 Northeast-10 Conference) earned its second straight home win on Tuesday, defeating American International College, 64-54, in league action at the Ross Sports Center.

For the Purple Knights, senior Alexis Keller (Harrington Park, N.J./Old Tappan) recorded a team-high 16 points, making 4-of-7 3-pointers. Classmate Michelle Otey (Southborough, Mass./Algonquin Regional) tallied 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while sophomore Caitlin Quinn (Oakdale, Conn./Montville) netted 12 points, hitting 3-of-6 3-pointers. The win evened the Purple Knights' home record at 4-4 on the season.

For AIC (6-13, 4-10 NE-10), junior Adriana Johnson (Tobyhanna, Pa.) notched a game-high 17 points and four steals as the Yellow Jackets lost their fifth straight game. Senior Kristin Boesenberg (Pocono Pines, Pa.) added 16 points, making all four of her 3-point attempts, while sophomore Rhea Pascal (Pickering, Ont.) contributed 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

The Yellow Jackets held their last lead, 12-11, eight minutes into the contest, but the Purple Knights then went on a 12-1 run to take a 22-13 lead. Saint Michael's extended its advantage to 10 points later in the period, before settling on a 34-26 lead at halftime. Otey tallied 11 points in the period, and Saint Michael's turned the ball over just four times in the first half, while AIC committed 10 turnovers in the frame.

Saint Michael's slowly stretched its lead in the second half, taking a game-high 15-point lead on two occasions, the last time at 53-38 with 9:43 to go following a lay-up from junior Meghan McCormack (Barrie, Ont./Saint Peter's Secondary School). AIC mounted one last run, scoring the next eight points to trim its margin to 53-46 with five minutes left, but Saint Michael's quickly restored its double-digit advantage, and made five of its last seven free throws in the final 43 seconds to seal the win.

Saint Michael's returns to action on Saturday with a 1 p.m. game at league newcomer Adelphi University. AIC hosts Saint Anselm College on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

##PURPLEKNIGHTS###