COLCHESTER, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College women's basketball team used an 18-1 run in the second half to secure a 73-50 win over Northeast 10 Conference foe American International College in its regular-season home finale at Ross Sports Center on Wednesday. Both squads were among 10 teams listed in this week's initial NCAA Division II East Region rankings.
 
The Purple Knights helped their NE10 Championship chances with the win, tying Southern New Hampshire University for fifth place in a league that takes its top seven into the postseason. With two regular-season games left, Saint Michael's is one game short of AIC for fourth place; the No. 2 through 4 seeds host first-round contests.
 
RECORDS

• Saint Michael's (13-11, 8-8 NE10), AIC (15-9, 9-7 NE10)

SAINT MICHAEL'S LEADERS

• Junior Jayla Tyler (Albany, N.Y./Colonie Central/Saint Rose), 18 points, 7 rebounds, 7-for-12 field goals, 4-for-4 free throws
• Junior Ashlee Talbot (Dracut, Mass./Dracut), 13 points, 4 assists, 2 steals, 4-for-7 field goals, 2-for-3 three-pointers
• Junior Ruby Santos (New Paltz, N.Y./Kent School), 11 points, 5 rebounds, 4-for-5 field goals, 2-for-3 three-pointers
• Senior Molly Brophy (Greenwich, N.Y./Greenwich Central School), 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2-for-3 three-pointers, 4-for-4 free throws
• Sophomore Margaret Montplaisir (Portsmouth, N.H./Portsmouth), 9 points, 4 rebounds, 2-for-5 three-pointers
• First-year Jasmine Becotte (Pelham, N.H./Lawrence Academy), 8 points, 5-for-5 free throws
• Junior Bella Franchi (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central), 6 rebounds, 3 assists

OPPONENT LEADERS

• Junior Eden Monka, 14 points, 7-for-9 field goals
• Graduate student Chelsea Reeves, 9 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals

GAME FACTS

• The Purple Knights' 13 wins are their most since going 16-11 in 2010-11.
• Saint Michael's shot 9-of-17 (52.9%) from deep and 18-for-20 (90.0%) on free throws while assisting 15 of its 23 baskets. The hosts held AIC to 4-of-20 three-point shooting (20.0%).
• The home team has now won seven straight in the series, with Saint Michael's taking the last three in the Ross Sports Center.
• Montplaisir's 59 threes this year are good for a tie for ninth in program history.

THE ACTION

• On the fifth lead change of the first quarter, Talbot's jumper at 2:55 put the Purple Knights ahead and sparked a 7-0 run that Tyler capped with two free throws with 1:08 left, making it 15-9.
• Saint Michael's extended its lead to 29-17 on Becotte's pair of freebies at 2:24 of the second quarter before leading 31-21 at halftime. The Purple Knights held AIC to 1-of-9 three-point shooting in the first 20 minutes.
• Montplaisir's triple extended the Saint Michael's lead to 41-28 by 6:36 of the third stanza before junior Alicia Aznar Chamorro's turnaround jumper cut the deficit to 42-36 with 3:28 to go.
• The Purple Knights responded with an 18-1 run that bridged the quarter break. Becotte netted six points, while Brophy and Talbot each scored five, and the visitors got no closer than 18 down the stretch.

NEXT SAINT MICHAEL'S GAME

• Saturday at regionally-ranked Southern Connecticut State University, 1:30 p.m.