Box Score QUARTER SCORES:1: 15-14 (AIC)
2: 25-25
3: 37-35 (AIC)
FINAL SCORE: American International 59 | So. Conn. State 52
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Despite three double-digit performances from senior
Danielle Powell (Middletown, N.Y.), junior
Taylor McLaughlin (Colchester, Conn.) and senior
Jackie Beathea (Annandale, Va.), the Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team fell short to American International, 59-52, on Wednesday evening at Butova Gymnasium.
Following the loss, the Owls fall to 14-10 and 7-9 while the Yellow Jackets improve to 20-4 and 13-4.
Beathea led the Owls' offense with her 15th double-double of the season, 15 points and 18 rebounds, as well as registered a career-high four blocks and a steal. Powell was the next highest scorer for the Owls with 14 points, four rebounds, a steal and an assist. McLaughlin rounded out the trio with 12 points, four rebounds and two steals.
The Owls finished the evening shooting only 35.5 percent (22-of-62) from the floor and 26.7 percent (4-of-15) from behind the arc. The Yellow Jackets on the other hand shot 40.4 percent (23-of-57) from the field and 30.0 percent (3-of-10) from three-point range.
Both teams recorded 18 turnovers over the full 40 minutes of play, but the Owls held a 22-15 edge in points off those turnovers. American International's bench outscored Southern Connecticut's bench 19-6.
It was all Southern Connecticut in the first as the visitors led for the majority of the quarter until the six second mark as American International's Jayda Gilmore made a deep three with six seconds left to put the hosts up one, 15-14.
American International continued its 15-2 run into the second quarter to extend its lead to seven, 23-16, just three minutes in. Southern Connecticut quickly brought the score to within two, 25-23, after a 7-0 run, including back-to-back three's from
Maria Weselyj (Marlborough, Conn.) and Powell. With 3:33 remaining until halftime, both teams could not make a basket until the one second mark as Beathea tied the game at 25-25.
The Yellow Jackets held a four-point lead, 30-26, over the Owls three minutes into the third quarter until another made layup from Beathea tied the game at 30-30 with 5:32 left on the clock. Following another tie, 33-33, American International closed out the quarter with a 4-2 run to take a 37-35 lead heading into the final quarter.
In the final quarter, Southern Connecticut threatened the hosts as the Owls regained the lead, 44-41, after a layup from Powell with 6:17 left to play. Shortly after, American International regained the lead and never looked back as the hosts closed out the game with a 14-8 run.
The Owls are back in action on Feb. 13 at the College of Saint Rose. Also, that game at Saint Rose will be televised on the American Sports Network beginning at 2 p.m.
