Jackson was 9-11 at the Free throw line and totaled 23 points and 5 rebounds.
Jackson was 9-11 at the Free throw line and totaled 23 points and 5 rebounds.

Jackson Led the Field with 23 Points; Firebirds Fall to American International 71-68

Sparkhill, N.Y.- Freshman reserve Latavia Jackson went 9-11 at the free throw line and scored 23 points for the Firebirds in a tough loss against American International, to wrap up the St Thomas Aquinas Conference Challenge. 

The Firebirds were led offensively by Jackson and Maya Thomas. Jackson led the floor with 23 points and five rebounds. Thomas put up 16 points and six rebounds, five of which were on defense. 

The Firebirds were stuck playing catch up for majority of the first half as they trailed ten points behind the yellow jackets at multiple points in the second quarter. A jump shot made by Jackson with less than three minutes to go in the half sparked a series of plays that led to the firebirds bringing the deficit down to only three points.

The second half started well for the Firebirds as Freshman Guard Halia Ellis made a jump shot ten seconds in to bring the score to 38-39. A series of missed shots by both teams leaving the scoreboard at a standstill was broken after a turnover on UDC led to a jump shot my AIC Asia Turner. 

The yellow jackets were able to pull away from UDC by five points but was short lived after a made jump shot and two free throws by Jackson made it a one-point game. 

With less than 10 minutes to go the Firebirds found themselves, once again, playing catch up after AIC took an eight-point lead. After two more made free throws by Jackson and a jump shot by Thomas the firebirds slowly started to close the gap.

With less than 30 seconds to go and 65-67 on the scoreboard, it was still anyone's game. A series of fouls called on the Firebirds and made free throws by the yellow jackets then made it a six-point game. With two seconds to go Jackson made a three-point jump shot to bring the final score to 68-71.

Next up UDC (0-2) will face off against Goldey-Beacom College on Wednesday November 13 at 6:00PM.