#19 American
International RINDGE, N.H. (January 3, 2007) – American International College, ranked 19th in this week’s USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II poll, held off a late rally to claim a 58-55 victory over Franklin Pierce, among teams receiving votes nationally, in Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball action at the Fieldhouse tonight. Sophomore Stacy Boisvert (Agawam, Mass./Agawam) led American International with a career-best 21 points, aided by a 9-of-11 shooting effort from the free-throw line, and 14 rebounds to go with two assists and a steal. Junior Lexanne Dickerson (Carthage, Ill./John Wood CC) added 11 points, five rebounds and three assists, while classmate Alexis Castro (Chula Vista, Calif.) finished with ten points (seven first half), seven rebounds and two steals. Junior Jen Nnanna (Somerset, N.J./Franklin) chipped in with eight rebounds and four blocked shots.
Senior Nicola Dalton (Danbury, Conn./Ridgefield) notched her first career double-double as she matched her career-best with ten points to go with a career-high 11 rebounds (seven offensive), four assists and four blocked shots. Sophomore Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy) led the Ravens with 13 points (nine second half), four steals and three assists, while sister Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy) contributed 12 points (eight first half), nine rebounds, six steals and four assists. Junior Stephanie Bergeron (Pointe Claire, Quebec/Dawson College) chipped in with nine points, four boards and four assists. Neither team shot well on the night as Franklin Pierce hit 32.8-percent (22-of-67) of its shots from the field, including 8-of-27 (29.6%) from three-point range, compared to 29.7% (19-64) for AIC, including 5-21 (23.8%) from beyond the arc. The Yellow Jackets enjoyed a 15-3 scoring advantage at the free-throw line, taking 20 shots from the line, compared to eight for the Ravens.
Franklin Pierce rallied from a 14-point deficit (43-29) midway through the second half and had an open look to force overtime. A quick 9-2 spurt trimmed the AIC lead to five points (46-41) after a Johannah Leedham free-throw with 6:52 to play. A conventional three-point play from Boisvert put AIC back up eight (51-43) with 4:47 left, but Bergeron drained a three-pointer to pull the hosts within three (53-50) with 2:07 to go. American International led by seven (57-50) after a pair of Boisvert free-throws with 40-seconds left, but the Ravens had another comeback in them. Jennifer Leedham hit a three with 22-seconds left and then after a Castro turnover, junior Angelica Benjamin (Fremont, Calif./Ohlone JC) hit a putback with ten seconds left to pull the Ravens within two. Dickerson was fouled, but hit just one of two at the line with eight-seconds to go and Johannah Leedham had an open look at the buzzer, but the shot caromed off the rim. Both teams enjoyed six point leads in the first half, but it was the Yellow Jackets who were able to hold that advantage late before settling for a four-point cushion (27-23) heading into the lockerroom. Back-to-back three-pointers from Dickerson and Castro sparked AIC’s late run. Franklin Pierce jumped out to a quick 10-4 lead after a Johannah Leedham three 4:51 into the contest. A Jennifer Leedham three pulled the Ravens within a point (27-26) 1:25 into the second half, but American International reeled off a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to open its first double-digit lead (37-26) of the contest 4:37 into the half. Franklin Pierce (11-3, 7-2 NE-10) is back in action on Saturday when it hosts fifth-ranked Southern Connecticut State University at 1:30 p.m. American International (11-3, 6-3 NE-10) is off until next Tuesday when it visits Le Moyne College at 5:30 p.m. |
