BOX SCORE

When and Where: January 7, 2017 – Springfield, Mass. (Butova Gymnasium)
Score: American International College 73, Southern New Hampshire University 67
Records: AIC 12-5 (6-2 NE10), SNHU 7-8 (3-6 NE10)

Sophomore Kylie Lorenzen (Holliston, Mass.) and senior Sara Ryan (Quincy, Mass.) scored 19 and 17 points, respectively, but the Southern New Hampshire University women's basketball team dropped a 73-67 decision to American International College on a snowy Saturday afternoon at Butova Gymnasium.

Lorenzen hit 4 of 10 shots from the field and knocked down 11 of 12 attempts at the line, while grabbing six rebounds. Ryan was 5-for-8 – all from behind the arc – and 2-for-2 from the stripe.

Dana Watts led the Yellow Jackets with 28 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, with Imani Stepney also registering a double-double of 17 points and 10 boards.

American International jumped out to an early 8-3 lead as Watts bookended the run with baskets over the game's opening 2:09. The margin fluctuated between four and two for the majority of the quarter until freshman Molly Terry (Shrewsbury, Mass.) drained a 3-pointer with 41 seconds on the clock to cut the Southern New Hampshire deficit to 17-16 at the end of one.

A layup from sophomore Aaliyah Paxton (Hainesport, N.J.) to open the second-quarter scoring gave SNHU its first lead of the game at 18-17 just 23 seconds in, but five straight points from Stepney put the Yellow Jackets back in front, 22-18, with 7:04 remaining.

A 9-2 counter-run – sparked by four Lorenzen free throws and highlighted by a 3-pointer from sophomore Brianna Camara (Fall River, Mass.) – put the Penmen up by a half-high three points at 27-24 with 3:58 left. Six straight points leapfrogged AIC back into the lead and it would carry a 32-31 lead into the break.

After a Tanisha Moyer basket gave the Yellow Jackets some breathing room, back-to-back Ryan 3-pointers capped a 12-2 rush that gave Southern New Hampshire its largest lead of the contest at 43-36 3:19 into the third quarter. Twice AIC looked like it was making a run, but both times a SNHU 3-pointer halted the attempt – first from Terry and then from junior Mimi MacLeod (Hampton Falls, N.H.).

Five points from Rashana Siders and three each from Watts and Stepney comprised an 11-2 flurry that ended the third quarter with AIC holding a 54-51 edge.

A Ryan trey nearly two minutes into the final frame tied the score at 56-all, but Siders answered with a 3 that gave the Yellow Jackets the lead for good and sparked a 10-2 run that opened the largest lead of the day at 66-58 with 6:14 to play.

A 5-0 spurt pulled the Penmen within three at 70-67 with under a minute left, but AIC went 3-for-4 from the line to seal the win.

Camara tallied six points (2-4 FG, 1-3 3-FG, 1-2 FT), four rebounds and four assists, while Paxton posted six points (2-8 FG, 2-2 FT) and five boards. Terry (2-3 FG, 2-2 3-FG) and junior Olivia Conrad (Hanover, Mass.; 2-2 FG, 2-2 FT) also netted six points each.

Notes:
-Southern New Hampshire narrowly outshot American International, 40 percent (20-50) to 39.4 percent (28-71), including 47.4 percent (9-19) to 20 percent (4-20) from beyond the arc.
-The 47.4 percent performance from deep matched SNHU's season best from Dec. 7 against Stonehill College when it shot the same 9 of 19.
-SNHU was also slightly better from the line, 90 percent (18-20) to 86.7 percent (13-15).
-The Yellow Jackets dominated the glass, 45-27, including 24-9 on the offensive end for a 29-9 margin in second chance points. AIC also won the paint (22-18) and produced a better assist-to-turnover ratio (14/11-13/13).

Up Next:
The Penmen return to action Tuesday, Jan. 10 (5:30 p.m.) when they play host to Roberts Wesleyan College in non-conference action at the SNHU Fieldhouse.

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