WOMEN'S BASKETBALL UPSETS NO. 9 AIC
SPRINGFIELD, MA - Hannah Sheppard (Norwich, Conn.) led visiting Pace University with 11 points as the Setters posted a 45-41 win over No. 9 American International College in Northeast-10 women's basketball action on Tuesday night at Butova Gymnasium. The Setters remain unbeaten at 3-0 overall and 2-0 in NE-10 play, while the Yellow Jackets are 3-1 and 0-1 in the league.
Sheppard drained a pair of three pointers and paced a balanced Setter attack. Liran Buchris (Massad, Israel) had eight points and four assists, while Stephanie Rossmy (Staten Island, N.Y.) and Ashley Wallace (Oswego, N.Y.) had six points apiece. Alexis Castro (Chula Vista, Calif.) led AIC with 18 points and 14 rebounds while Lexanne Dickerson (Carthage, Ill.) had seven points.
Pace outscored AIC 11-5 over the first 11 minutes of the second half to build a 35-28 lead, but the Yellow Jackets responded with seven unanswered points to tie the game with 6:35 left on a basket by Castro. The Setters retook the lead at the 4:27 mark when Sheppard drained a three from the top of the key.
Wallace gave Pace a 42-37 lead with 2:34 left, but back-to-back baskets by Castro and Stacy Boisvert (Agawam, Mass.) pulled AIC within 42-41 with 1:24 to go. The Setters made it 44-41 when Buchris converted two at the line with 12 seconds to go. Castro would get a good look at a three on the Yellow Jackets final possession but her attempt was off the mark and a Wallace free throw with 3.4 seconds left accounted for the final.
The Yellow Jackets built a 12-4 lead just over seven minutes into the contest and took a 16-6 lead with 8:34 remaining in the first half on a free throw by Stacy Boisvert (Agawam, Mass.). The Setters would respond with an 11-2 run and a basket by Sheppard at the 3:51 mark gave Pace a 19-18 lead. AIC would reclaim the lead with 1:07 left before intermission on a layup by Boisvert, but the guests would take a 24-23 lead into the locker room after Sheppard was fouled shooting a three with 3.9 seconds left and sank all three free throws.
Pace outrebounded AIC 41-39 and limited the Yellow Jackets to 27.6% shooting from the floor, including 25.9% over the final 20 minutes.
The Setters return to action on Saturday, November 25th, when they play host to Queens College, in a non-conference match-up slated for a 1:30 pm start.
RELEASE COURTESY OF AIC SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
