Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College women's basketball team defeated American International College on Wednesday evening by a score of 67-54 on Ted Grant Court for their 11^th home win of the season to improve to 16-5 overall and 14-4 against conference competition.

"I liked how we came out… We were just aggressive, we were mindful that we need to score, we need to score early. I think that's one lesson we learned from Monday (against SNHU) is we can't sit back and see what's going on, we just have to be the aggressors. Lexi (Gruss) came in and she hit two threes, and (Saeeda) was hitting from outside, Erin (was 3-3 from three). I think that helped open up stuff on the inside. We were very mindful of our offense this game," said Le Moyne Head Coach Mary Grimes following the win.

With one game left on the schedule before the postseason, the Dolphins will go the entire regular season without losing back-to-back games. On her team's ability to battle through adversity, Grimes had this to say:

"They respond every time I challenge them. Being a senior-led team, I think they understand the magnitude of every game, whether we win or lose, they are always striving for more, and they don't like that feeling of losses, and they come back and prep a lot for the next game."

Five Le Moyne players scored in double figures on Wednesday, including Lexi Gruss (Binghamton, N.Y./Binghamton) who contributed a career-high 10 points off the bench via two made three-point field goals and a perfect 4-4 from the free-throw line.

Emma Brinker (East Aurora, N.Y./East Aurora), Lytoya Baker (Rochester, N.Y./Bishop Kearney), Erin Fouracre (Loudonville, N.Y./Colonie Central) and Saeeda Abdul-Aziz (Schenectady, N.Y./Mohonasen/Davidson) each also scored double-digit points for the Dolphins during the NE10 victory.

Brinker scored 10 points on 50% shooting from the field, grabbed four rebounds and blocked one shot.

Baker tallied 14 points on 4-7 from the field and 6-8 from the free-throw line, grabbed 11 rebounds, blocked three shots and provided two assists during almost 38 minutes played.

Fouracre was a perfect 4-4 from the field, including 3-3 from beyond the three-point line, and shot 4-5 from the free-throw line on her way to a team-high 15 points to go along with five assists, three steals and two rebounds in 30 minutes of action.

Abdul-Aziz contributed 11 points on 4-7 from the field and 3-5 from beyond the arc.

Gruss played 30 minutes for the Dolphins off the bench, and along with her 10 points, the junior guard provided four rebounds and three assists.

Senior forward Jenna Zimmerman (Adams, N.Y./South Jefferson) only took three shots during the game, but registered 11 rebounds, six assists and four blocks during the conference win.

Redshirt-freshman forward Haedyn Roberts (Holland Patent, N.Y./Holland Patent) provided seven points and five rebounds off the bench.

Graduate guard Destine Perry lead the Yellow Jackets with a game-high 17 points on 20 shots. Junior guard Kyla Smith was the only other AIC player to finish in double figures, recording 10 points on 5-11 from the field.

Just over one minute into the game, Fouracre swung the ball to Abdul-Aziz in the right corner. The redshirt-junior guard knocked home the long-distance jumper to give the Dolphins the first points of the game.

During the next Le Moyne possession, Fouracre cut towards the left elbow and caught a pass from Abdul-Aziz, then turned to her right and rifled a pass to Baker cutting down the right lane. Baker caught the ball over her head and dropped a touch-pass to Brinker on the right block. Brinker gathered and finished the layup to put the Dolphins up 5-0.

An Abdul-Aziz corner three-pointer at the 6:25 mark of the first quarter gave the Dolphins an 8-2 advantage and forced a Yellow Jackets timeout.

Gruss hit two consecutive three-point field goals in the middle of the quarter to make it 14-9 Le Moyne.

The Yellow Jackets shot 40% during the first quarter and tied the game at 14-14 following a Nyrie Holliman three-pointer and a Kyla Smith jumper.

Le Moyne went on a 10-0 run to close the opening frame. Baker drove to the basket and converted a runner in the lane at the 3:15 mark, then with 1:30 remaining in the period, Zimmerman swung the ball to Fouracre on the right wing, and Fouracre drilled the three-point field goal to put Le Moyne up 22-14. Baker sank a free-throw line jump shot with under 30 second remaining to give the Dolphins a 24-14 lead going into the second quarter.

Baker drove past her defender and knocked down a short corner pull up from the left side to give Le Moyne a 26-14 lead at the start of the second period.

Perry sank a three-pointer and scored in the paint, and Sara Guntin Barriero scored a basket to cut American International's deficit to 26-21.

Zimmerman got the ball at the high post on the other end and delivered the ball to Abdul-Aziz who knocked down the three-pointer, and Fouracre converted a three-point field goal following a Zimmerman offensive rebound with 6:20 remaining in the half to extend the lead to 32-21.

Brinker sank a straight-on turnaround 10-footer at the 1:10 mark. Then, during the next Le Moyne possession, Zimmerman delivered the ball to Brinker on the left block. Brinker turned quickly and scored the layup to put Le Moyne up 37-26. Le Moyne held a 38-28 lead at halftime.

Perry drove to the basket and scored at the start of the second half.

With under eight minutes left in the quarter, Fouracre attacked the basket on a Le Moyne fast break, converted the left-handed layup from close range, drew a foul and sank the additional free-throw to put Le Moyne up 41-32.

Baker sank a turnaround jumper from the top of the paint at the 6:26 mark, and less than a minute later the 5'7" guard from Rochester grabbed a defensive rebound and pushed the ball up the court. Baker brought the ball into the front court and attacked the basket from the left wing towards the right block. The defense collapsed on Baker, so she kicked the ball out to Gruss in the corner. Gruss missed the three-point field goal attempt short, but Baker was positioned perfectly to grab the offensive rebound. Baker rose to grab the board, corralled the ball and shot her layup before coming back down to the ground. Baker could not finish the layup through contact from the defender, but she drew a foul and sank both free-throws to give Le Moyne a 10-point lead.

Baker passed the ball to Abdul-Aziz in the paint at the 5:07 mark. Abdul-Aziz dropped a bounce pass between the defense to Fouracre in the painted area, who got fouled and converted one of two free-throws.

During the ensuing AIC possession, Le Moyne was in a man-to-man defense. Fouracre got her right hand in the passing lane, deflected a Yellow Jackets' pass on the perimeter, drew a foul while pursuing the loose ball and was sent crashing into the scorer's table. Le Moyne was in the bonus, so Fouracre got up, brushed herself off, stepped up to the foul line and made both shots to give the Dolphins a 48-35 advantage.

Baker and Roberts both made two free-throws during the quarter, and Le Moyne held a 52-39 advantage going into the final period.

With over a minute gone by in the fourth quarter, Zimmerman delivered an entry pass to Brinker in the middle of the paint. Brinker turned and scored to give Le Moyne a 54-39 advantage.

With just over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Roberts passed the ball to Abdul-Aziz near the right elbow. Abdul-Aziz turned towards the goal and fired a pass to Fouracre who cut from the perimeter to the front of the rim. Fouracre was swarmed by defenders immediately after the catch, and passed the ball to Roberts at the foul line. Roberts knocked down the free-throw line jump shot at the 5:59 mark, and then Fouracre drained a three-point field goal to put the Dolphins up 59-43 with 4:38 remaining in the game.

Perry drove and scored at the 4:16 mark, then Zoe Willis made a three-pointer to trim American International's deficit to 59-50.

During the next Le Moyne possession, Fourace drove into the teeth of the defense and dropped off a pass to Roberts on the low block. The redshirt-freshman forward converted the layup to make it 61-50 Le Moyne.

Baker then drove to the basket and made a shot in the lane over her defender to give Le Moyne a 63-50 advantage.

The Dolphins won the conference battle by a score of 67-54 to improve to 16-5 on the season.

The Le Moyne College women's basketball team will close out the regular season with a matchup at Pace on Tuesday, February 22, with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m. EST.