Springfield, Mass. – The Holy Family University women's basketball team outscored American International College 27-7 over the final eight minutes of regulation to record a 61-55 come-from-behind victory at Butova Gymnasium in Springfield, Mass. Saturday afternoon.

Holy Family, ranked fifth nationally, improves to 3-0 overall, while American International suffers its first defeat of the season and is now 3-1 overall.

Graduate student Samantha Thompson (Southampton, Pa./St. Basils) (Southampton, Pa./St. Bail's) scored a game-high 24 points to lead Holy Family in the victory. Thompson shot an impressive 80-percent from the field (8-10) and was 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Sophomore Erin Mann (West Chester, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) (West Chester, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) added 20 points to go along with a team-high eight rebounds.

For American International, senior Adriana Johnson scored a team-high 16 points to go along with five boards and three assists. Junior Maria Li Sicard finished with 11 points, while fellow classmate Rhea Pascal contributed 10 points and eight rebounds.

American International led 25-24 at the half and increased its lead to as much as 14 points late in the second half after Li Sicard scored on a layup at the 8:37 mark to give the Yellow Jackets a 48-34 lead.

From that point on it was all Holy Family. The Tigers went on a 15-3 run capped by a two-point jumper by Mann to come within two points (51-49) of the Yellow Jackets with 5:34 remaining in regulation.

Holy Family eventually tied the score and took the lead after senior Meghan Gibson (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) converted a pair of free throws to make it 56-55 in favor of the Tigers with 2:02 to play.

Junior Lauren Peters (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks W.) scored the teams final five points in the final two minutes of regulation as Holy Family went on to the 61-55 victory. Peters finished with five points, four boards, four assists and two steals.

Holy Family is back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 23 with a non-conference road game against Millersville University. Game time is slated for 6 p.m.

- HFU -