WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS AT AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL, 64-57

SPRINGFIELD, MA - The Pace University women's basketball team fell to the Yellow Jackets of American International College, 64-57, Tuesday night at Butova Gymnasium in a Northeast-10 Conference game. The Setters fall to 9-16 overall and 8-12 in NE-10 play, while the Yellow Jackets improve to 16-9 on the season, 12-8 in conference play. The loss snaps Pace's three game winning streak, while AIC ends their six-game losing streak to Pace.

Sophomore Taylor Losey (Bristol, CT/Bristol Eastern) (Bristol, CT/Bristol Eastern) led all Setters with a team-high 16 points on 5-for-11 shooting from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the charity stripe. Senior Stephanie Rossmy (Staten Island, NY/St. John Villa) (Staten Island, NY/St. John Villa) was the only other player in double figures for Pace with 14 points, to go with a team-high five rebounds.

American International had three players in double figures led by Alexis Castro's game-high 24 points on 9-for-18 shooting from the field, while going 6-for-9 from the free throw line, to go along with a game-high 15 rebounds to collect the double-double. Stacy Boisvert and Jeannette Johnathan each finished with 14 points apiece. Boisvert also grabbed 10 rebounds on the night to record the double-double. Mirlande Francois showed her presence on the glass as she was the third Yellow Jacket to collect double figures in rebounds with 10.

The first half featured a tight battle as neither team was able to separate themselves from the other. The Yellow Jackets never trailed in the first half, as the Setters were only able to tie the game on three occasions. After a Laura Mooney (Staten Island, NY/St. John Villa) (Staten Island, NY/St. John Villa) three-pointer tied the game for the third time at 14 with 11:53 left in the half, AIC used an 11-2 run to build their largest lead of the half, 25-16, at the 6:26 mark. Pace answered with an 11-3 run of their own to cut their deficit to one, 28-27, with 2:28 remaining in the half. However, the Yellow Jackets would score the final five points in the half to take a six-point lead, 33-27, into the locker room.

The second half featured much of the same as neither team was able to pull ahead. A Stephanie Klingele (Staten Island, NY/St. John Villa) (Staten Island, NY/St. John Villa) jumper gave Pace its first and only lead of the game, 52-51, with 6:37 left in the game, but a pair of Castro free throws a few possessions later regained the lead for AIC for good. After a pair of free throws from Rossmy cut Pace's deficit to one, 55-54 with 2:36 remaining, the Yellow Jackets used an 8-0 hitting their free throws down the stretch to ice the game and take the seven-point victory, 64-57.

Pace shot 38.3% (18-for-47) from the field, including just 21.1% (4-for-19) from beyond the arc for the game. The Setters shot well from the line going 17-for-21 (81.0%). Similarly, AIC shot 39.6% (19-for-48) from the field, including going 3-for-7 (42.9%) from three. The Yellow Jackets were sent to the free throw line 31 times converting 23 (74.2%). AIC also controlled the boards out rebounding Pace 44-21, including holding a 19-6 advantage on the offensive glass, which led to a 15-5 advantage for the Yellow Jackets on second chance points.

Pace returns to action this Saturday, February 23^rd, as the Setters will play host to the Dolphins of Le Moyne College in a Northeast-10 Conference meeting. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.