SPRINGFIELD, MA (Jan. 22, 2008) – Senior F Alexis Castro scored 25 points as American International College defeated UMass Lowell, 57-46, Tuesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball tilt at Butova Gymnasium.

With the loss, UML slipped to 9-9 overall and 4-9 in the NE-10 entering Saturday’s home clash against Bryant (2:00). The Yellow Jackets improved to 11-6 overall and 8-5 in the NE-10.

Senior F Liron Asher (Givataim, Israel) led UML with 12 points while sophomore Tricia Tacey (Glastonbury, CT) added eight points off the bench for UML.

Castro converted 8 of 12 field goal attempts and 7 of 9 shots from the free throw line.

AIC forced 19 turnovers from UML (while committing 15), resulting in a 17-11 edge in points off turnovers. The Yellow Jackets also outscored the River Hawks 15-8 from the free throw line and shot significantly better from the floor: .444 (20-45) opposed to .354 (17-48).

Early in the second half, UML trimmed the deficit to eight (32-24) with 18:55 left to play, but the Yellow Jackets used a 12-4 spurt to post a 44-26 lead with 12:54 left to play. Senior C Mirlande Francois had four points to lead the run.

The River Hawks used a 7-0 run to whittle the lead to nine (55-46) with 1:46 left to play, but could muster no closer.

In the first half, UML led 16-15 with 8:27 left to play, but the Yellow Jackets ended the half with a 16-4 run to take a 31-20 lead into the break. Castro led the spurt with seven points.