SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – American International College's Tia-Marie Martinez drilled the go-ahead three-pointer with 21 seconds left to help defeat the Saint Anselm College women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon. Junior
Melanie Hoyt (Stamford, N.Y.) set a new career-high with 28 points in the loss.
UP NEXT:
- Saint Anselm is on the road for the final game of the regular season against Pace University in Pleasantville, N.Y. on Tuesday, February 27th.
Score: Saint Anselm 63, American International 65
Records: Saint Anselm 9-18 (6-15 NE10), American International 14-13 (9-12 NE10)
Location: Springfield, Mass. (Henry A. Butova Gymnasium)
Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Scoring the first basket of the game for Saint Anselm was fifth-year Liv Robles (Wallingford, Conn.) on a two-point shot in the paint. Hoyt rattled off the next ten points for the Hawks, who got out to a 12-7 lead in the first quarter.
- Sophomore Tatum Forbes (Pawtucket, R.I.) ended the quarter by scoring four straight points and Saint Anselm led, 16-8, after a quarter of play.
- A strong start to the second quarter helped the Hawks push their lead up to 13 points. Robles connected on another midrange jumper off a feed from Hoyt and a triple by sophomore Anna Nelson (Gorham, Maine) made it a 21-8 game.
- Later on in the quarter, a three by Forbes and a pair of triples by senior Alexa Quirolo (New Rochelle, N.Y.) allowed Saint Anselm to keep their lead in double digits with the score being 36-24 and 1:58 remaining in the first half.
- American International ended the half on a mini 5-0 scoring run, but Saint Anselm still led by seven points at the break.
- Briana Lee scored the first five points of the second half to help the Yellow Jackets cut the deficit to just two points, but Robles provided a much needed response for the Hawks with five points, including a three-pointer, to increase the lead back up to seven.
- Hoyt started to get the rhythm going again midway through the third quarter. The junior forward poured in eight of the last 10 points of the quarter and went four-for-four at the free throw line for Saint Anselm as the Hawks led, 51-47, going into the final period.
- American International scored on their first two possessions of the fourth and took a one-point lead, their first of the game, after an and-one by Kayla Robinson. Hoyt countered that with a layup off the window assisted by junior Katie Lemanski (Haymarket, Va.). Hoyt also knocked down a pair at the line the next trip down the court and just like that, Saint Anselm was back in front, 55-52.
- The Hawks started to get hot on the offensive end midway through the fourth with Hoyt cashing in on a pair of midrange jumpers and Nelson hitting for two as well, which made it 61-53, Saint Anselm, with 3:55 remaining in the game.
- The Yellow Jackets immediately answered with seven straight points to cut the Hawks' lead down to just a point with a minute to go, but another midrange shot form Hoyt gave Saint Anselm a 63-60 advantage with 38 seconds to play.
- After a timeout, Kayla Robinson made two free throws for American International, who fouled right afterwards to extend the game. Saint Anselm missed both free throws and with 21 seconds to go, Martinez knocked down a three from the right wing. The Hawks missed the go-ahead three at the other end and ultimately fell by two points.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Both teams shot 40% from the floor. Saint Anselm made 23 of their 57 shots (40.4%) and American International made 22 of 55 from the field (40.0%). The Hawks had an efficient day from behind the arc, making five of their 11 three-point tries (45.4%) compared to the Yellow Jackets going five for 17 from long distance (29.4%).
- Saint Anselm went 12-16 at the free throw line (75.0%), while American International shot 16-21 at the stripe (76.2%).
- The rebounding battle was all tied up, 35-35. The difference in the game came in bench scoring, with the Yellow Jacket reserves outscoring the Hawks bench, 27-11.
- AIC also outscored Saint Anselm, 32-16, in paint points. The turnover battle was even with the Hawks committing 11 and the Yellow Jackets committing 12.
- Hoyt set a new career-best with 28 points (10-20 FG, 8-8 FT) to go along with five rebounds. Forbes and Robles each added 11 points for the Hawks in the loss.
- Four Yellow Jackets finished with double digits in the scoring column, led by Lee with 16 points and eight boards.
- This marked the 74th all-time meeting between these two teams. Saint Anselm falls to 40-34 overall against American International.
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