WEST HAVEN, Conn. - Ashley LeBlanc (Methuen, Mass./Methuen) recorded a double-double behind a season-high 16 points and 12 rebounds, but the American International Yellow Jackets rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to upend the nationally-ranked No. 21 University of New Haven women's basketball team 76-73 in a Northeast-10 Conference Championship semifinal on Friday evening at Charger Gymnasium.

With the win, AIC improves to 18-13 and advances to the Championship finals on Sunday at Adelphi. New Haven falls to 23-5 and will wait to see if it is selected as one of the five at-large teams in the NCAA Division II East Region Championship. The selection show will take place on Sunday, March 8 at 10 p.m. and can be viewed on NCAA.com.

In addition to LeBlanc's effort, Aquillin Hayes (Harlem, N.Y./Wings Academy) scored a team-high 21 points. Elizabeth Cruso (Westerly, R.I./Westerly) added 10 points and three steals.
Krista Ferrentino scored a game-high 26 points and added nine rebounds to lead the Yellow Jackets.

The Chargers started off strong and built a 13-8 lead less than five minutes into the contest. After a Ferrentino layup sliced the New Haven lead to a bucket at 19-17, the Chargers went on a 14-6 run and opened a 33-23 advantage prior to holding a 35-27 lead at halftime.

As the second half opened, AIC started to chip away at the New Haven lead in part to the three-point shooting of Brianna Bishop, who hit six treys in the frame. Trailing 45-39, the Yellow Jackets went on an 8-0 run which was capped by a Bishop three to take a 47-45 lead.

The Chargers recovered to open a 62-54 on a layup by Cruso with 7:16 remaining. Still trailing by five with 1:55 remaining, AIC made the game's final push. Back-to-back threes by Bishop and a layup by Kamika Mason put the Yellow Jackets on top 76-73 with 22 seconds left. New Haven had an opportunity for the last possession, but could not get a shot away, allowing AIC to escape with the win.