Box Score FLUSHING, N.Y. – Despite a frenzied late-game rally by Madison Rowland, the Queens College women's basketball team lost to American International College, 59-54, at Fitzgerald Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. Rowland and Kristen Korzevinski each had 16 points for Knights, who were undone by foul trouble and costly turnovers.
Queens got off to a furious start, scoring the game's first eleven points with Korzevinski contributing six points of her own. American International was forced to take an early timeout. From there, the unbeaten Yellowjackets began to find their footing, switching defensive looks in an attempt to confuse the Knights and take them out of their early rhythm. With three minutes left in the first, the Yellowjackets had already come back to knot the game at 13 with a layup by Ebony Easter.
Foul woes for Rowland and 13 first half turnovers disrupted the Knights' flow and allowed the visitors to methodically take control of the game. Otherwise, Queens was having a solid offensive game led by Korzevinski with 12 points and the team shooting 45 percent from the field. Heading into intermission, the Yellowjackets led 31-26.
A hook shot over the right shoulder by Elisabeth Gully had the Knights off on the right foot to start the third. On the ensuing play, MacKenzie Rowland found her sister Madison on a backdoor cut for an easy lay-in, and moments later Madison returned the favor by finding MacKenzie on the left block for a turnaround layup for Queens to take the lead. A fast-break score by Korzevinski had the Knights up three a mere three minutes into the second half.
Once again, the Yellowjackets regrouped following a timeout by head coach Kristen Hutchinson. The team reasserted soft pressure in the backcourt to delay the Knights getting into their offense before trapping the ball once it was over halfcourt. As happened in the first half, Queens struggled to counter the aggressive defense and fell behind to a 7-0 run that ended the third quarter. Heading into the fourth, American International had its largest lead of the contest, 46-39.
After extending the lead to nine in the early fourth, the visitors maintained their cushion over the Knights. That was until a late-game rally by Mad. Rowland put her team back into contention. Beginning with a pair of free throws, the reigning conference player of the year scored ten consecutive points for the Knights including two three-pointers. Down by three with just over twenty seconds to play, Queens' defense forced a missed shot but failed to come up with the defensive rebound. Free throws made by Brianna Bishop put the game out of reach and allowed the Yellowjackets to come away with a 59-54 road win.
With the result, the Yellowjackets remain unbeaten on the season at 6-0. Meanwhile, Queens dropped its first game of the season and now sits at 3-1. Korzevinski and Mad. Rowland led the Knights with 16 points and Mack. Rowland chipped in 12 rebounds. Guard Briana Bishop scored 20 points and connected on all eight of her free throws to lead American International.
Queens College returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 9, when the team travels to St. Thomas Aquinas to begin East Coast Conference play. Tip-off is slated for 6:00 p.m.
