Press Release

SMC WOMEN DROP THIRD STRAIGHT CONTEST, FALLS TO AIC, 76-57 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     FOR MORE INFORMATION January 31, 2004                                                                      Contact: Seth Cole Courtesy: AIC Sports Information                                               Phone: (802) 654-2537 SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Debbie Sampson (Brockton, Mass.) matched her career-high with 15 points as the American International College women’s basketball team outscored visiting Saint Michael’s 45-28 in the second half en route to a 76-57 victory at Butova Gymnasium Saturday afternoon. The win, the sixth in a row for the Yellow Jackets, improves them to 17-4 and 12-4 in the Northeast-10 while Saint Michael’s drops to 6-13 and 3-13 in the league. Besides Sampson, Megan Ladley (Pittsfield, Mass.) totaled 14 points, going 4-for-8 from three point range for AIC, while Sharmion Selman (Burlington, Vt.) added 11 points and nine rebounds.  Alissa Rubino (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) once again had a solid all-around game, totaling eight points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Senior Erica Kensey (Bow, N.H./Bow) paced Saint Michael’s with 14 points. AIC opened the second half on a 12-0 run to take a 43-29 lead with 15:46 to play after a free throw by Selman. The Yellow Jackets then extended the lead to 51-32 with 12:15 to go after eight straight points by Ladley, including back-to-back three pointers.  The Purple Knights would cut the lead to 52-40 with a 8-1 run of their own with 10:17 on the clock, but that would be as close as the guests would get.  Saint Michael’s led by as many as five points in the first half, taking a 19-14 lead with 11:46 to go on a basket by sophomore Brigid Hegarty (No. Andover, Mass./Central Catholic). AIC took its first lead of the game at the 6:36 mark after Ladley drained a three-pointer from the right corner.  The lead was short-lived as Kensey retook the lead on a bucket with 4:22 on the clock. AIC reclaimed the lead at the end of the first half when Michelle Ransom (Hempstead, N.Y.) sank a pair at the line with 3.1 seconds left to give the Jackets a 31-29 lead. American International outrebounded Saint Michael’s 46-38 and limited the Purple Knights to 31.7% shooting from the floor. Saint Michael's visits College of Saint Rose on Wednesday before hosting Pace University on Feb. 7 at 1:30 p.m. at the Ross Sports Center. ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002