MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Southern New Hampshire University women's basketball team dropped a Northeast-10 Conference game by a score of 73-59 to American International College Saturday afternoon at the SNHU Fieldhouse. The Penmen are now 5-9 overall and 3-5 in conference play, while the Yellow Jackets improve to 10-4 overall and 4-4 in the league.

Junior Brooke Springfield (Jaffrey, N.H.) scored a team-high 12 points, including eight in the first half, and Erin Doherty (Marshfield, Mass.) added 11 points, going 3-8 from the field for SNHU.

The Yellow Jackets opened with a quick 3-0 lead on the Penmen, but Springfield answered with one of her two three pointers to put SNHU on the board and tie the game. The half remained neck-and-neck as there were four lead changes, and the score was tied six times. Halfway through the first, SNHU was able to build a four point lead (15-11) on back-to-back Bianca Langford (Worcester, Mass.) baskets. American Int'l answered with a Brianna Bishop three-pointer, to cut the lead to one, but the Kaylea Griffin (Green Springs, Ohio) completed a three-point play after getting fouled and knocking down a free throw to go back up 18-14. Despite leading by four with 8:58 left in the period, the Yellow Jackets were able to come back and pull away after going on a 10-0 run sparked by Alyssa Roach and Kamika Mason, who each scored four points in the run. The visitors led by as many as eight in the half, and took a 32-29 lead into the locker room.

American International continued to build on its lead in the second half coming out of the gates on a 6-0 run, to take a 38-29 lead. SNHU was able to cut the lead down to six on a Sara Ryan (Quincy, Mass.) three-pointer, but the Yellow Jackets went on another run, and pulled away with a lead of 11. The Penmen were able to cut it to 10 once more in the half, but it was not enough as AIC continued to build on its advantage and take the win.

The Penmen return to action Tuesday, January 14 when they host Pace University in a conference game at 5:30 p.m.

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