Box Score Feb. 28, 2010
Box Score
Junior G Adriana Johnson (Tobyhanna, PA) scored 18 points, including six in a key late run, to lead No. 10 American International College over No. 7 UMass Lowell Sunday afternoon in the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament First Round at the Costello Athletic Center.
With the loss, UMass Lowell ends its season with 16-11 record, albeit a remarkable turnaround from an 8-19 finish a year ago.
AIC improved to 12-15 and visits No. 2 Pace Tuesday at 7:00.
The Yellow Jackets used a 20-4 run over the final 5:49, in which they shot 6 for 8 from the field – including three treys – and 5 for 6 from the free throw line, to stun the River Hawks and move on to the second round.
Freshman G Bianca Simmons (Middletown, CT) led UMass Lowell with 22 points as she converted 6 of 12 field goals and 7-7 free throws. Senior F Jen Valente (Prospect, CT) added 14 points and seven rebounds on 5-9 field goal shooting and 4-4 from the free throw line.
Senior G Kristin Boesenberg (Pocono Pines, PA) led AIC with 22 points as she meshed 6-12 attempts from 3-point range and dished three assists. Johnson dished out four assists while sophomore F Rhea Pascal (Pickering, ONT) chipped in 10 points and 11 rebounds.
AIC forced UMass Lowell into 21 turnovers (while committing 13) and capitalized by outscoring the River Hawks, 25-13, off mistakes. The Yellow Jackets also outscored UMass Lowell, 24-9, from 3-point range, led by Boesenberg’s six.
The edges buffered UMass Lowell’s advantages in second chance points (16-9) and bench scoring (35-3).
After a UMass Lowell turnover, Johnson buried a jump shot to trim the deficit to one (59-58) with 1:24 left to play. Following a missed 3-point attempt by sophomore F Sha’Nay Bushner (Akron, OH), AIC took the lead for good when sophomore G Michelle Lafond (Holyoke, MA) hit a 3-point shot from the corner for a 61-59 lead with 20 seconds remaining.
After a turnover with six seconds left, the River Hawks were forced to foul, with Johnson connecting on a pair to make it a two-possession game.
