Sophomore Asia Ewing posted a double-double for the second-straight game with 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Skyhawks tonight. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane)

Yellow Jackets hold Skyhawks under 30-percent shooting, post big rebounding advantage

Senior Rhea Pascal (Pickering, Ontario/Notre Dame) led the way for American International with a double-double effort of 16 points and a game-high 14 rebounds with two assists and a blocked shot as she made 8-of-13 shots from the field. Sophomore Sarah Noble (Windsor, Ontario/Holy Names) added 16 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field, including 2-for-3 from three-point range, while converting all six free-throw attempts to go with four assists and two rebounds. Senior Marie Li Sicard (Montreal, Quebec/Dawson College) followed with 12 points (ten first half), seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in 31 minutes off the bench.

Sophomore Asia Ewing (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) led Stonehill with her sixth double-double of the season (seventh career) as she netted a game-high 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field, including 3-for-6 from three-point range, while converting both free-throw attempts to go with 11 rebounds. Classmate Mary Louise Dixon (Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley) finished with 13 points, six assists and five boards after playing a role in all 19 of the Skyhawks first half points with ten points and assists on the teams other four baskets. Freshman Tori Faieta (Lynn, Mass./Saint Mary's) chipped in seven points, five boards and two blocked shots.

Sophomore Mary Louise Dixon finished with 13 points, six assists and five rebounds. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane)

American International shot 46-percent (23-for-50) from the field, including 52% (13-25) in the first half, and converted 7-of-8 (78.5%) free-throws. The Yellow Jackets outrebounded Stonehill 38-28, resulting in a 17-4 advantage in second chance points, while the AIC bench outscored the host's reserves 14-2. Stonehill was limited to 29.6% (16-54) shooting overall, including 25% (6-24) in the opening half, while making just 6-of-24 (25%) three-pointers and converting all eight free-throws.

Stonehill held a pair of early one point leads, the latter coming after a Ewing jumper with 15:16 to play in the first half. American International used a 12-2 run to open a nine point lead (21-12) on a Pascal jumper with 7:17 to play in the frame. The Skyhawks cut the gap to seven (23-16) with two Dixon free-throws 3:59 before the break, but the Yellow Jackets closed the half with a 9-3 spurt to carry a 13 point advantage (32-19) into the intermission, capped by a Noble three with 21 seconds remaining.

American International extended its lead to 17 (36-19) 3:16 into the second half with a jumper by sophomore Erica Johnson (Cypress, Texas/Cypress Woods) and two free-throws by Noble. A 13-2 run pulled Stonehill within five (47-42) after two free-throws by Ewing with 7:02 to play, but the Skyhawks would get no closer. Ewing and Dixon hit three-pointers to spark the run, while Faieta netted five points during that stretch.

American International scored the next eight points over the following six minutes push its lead back to 13 (55-42) with 1:06 left after six straight points by Pascal to seal the win. Stonehill made just two of its final ten shots from the field after getting back in the game, with AIC senior Michelle Lafond (Holyoke, Mass./Holyoke) capping the scoring with a three with 14 seconds left to make the final 12 point winning margin.

Stonehill (8-8, 4-8 NE-10) is back in action on Saturday when it visits Southern Connecticut State University for an NE-10 clash at 1:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Saturday, January 28, to host Pace University at 1:30 p.m. Former Stonehill standout Nancy Smith will be formally inducted into the Northeast-10 Hall of Fame during a ceremony at halftime. American International (7-9, 6-6 NE-10) hosts Merrimack College on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.