Jan. 19, 2008

Box Score

HAMILTON, N.Y. - The American University women's basketball team rode its strongest offensive performance of the season to an 88-58 over Colgate on Saturday afternoon at Cotterell Court for its first Patriot League win of the season. Five Eagles scored in double figures as AU used an impressive second half to pull away from the Raiders.

American's (7-11, 1-2) 88 points scored is the team's highest total since an 89-81 overtime victory over Navy on Feb. 21, 2006, and its 30-point margin of victory marks the first time that the Eagles have won by such a spread since defeating Lafayette on Jan. 16, 2002, 92-56.

For the first time in seven games, AU took the lead into the locker room at halftime, 39-34. The Eagles first took the lead at the 16:57 mark, 5-4, off a Maggie Smith-Davidson free throw. AU would maintain that lead until the Raiders (1-17, 0-3) tied the game, 30-30, at the 3:24 mark off a pair of Shavorn Martin free throws. American bounced back though and finished the half off on a 9-4 run as Hayes scored six of her 13 first half points in the period's final three minutes.

The Raiders shot 48.0 percent in the first stanza, slightly better than AU's 46.4 percent, but American's advantage was gained on the boards where it held a plus-six advantage at half.

American began the second half with a 13-4 run before the first scheduled timeout to open its lead to 14 points. Stephanie N'Garsanet scored six points during the stretch on 3-3 shooting and Hayes added five. The Eagles stayed sharp out of the media and extended their lead to 21, 64-43, marking a 25-9 scoring advantage in the half's first eight minutes. American kept its foot on the gas for the duration of the period, outscoring the Raiders 24-15 the rest of the way.

For the half, AU totaled 49 points to Colgate's 24 and outshot the host Raiders 72.4 percent to 42.3.

Hayes led all scorers with 20 points and three three-point field goals, marking the second time in as many games that she has reached the 20 point plateau. N'Garsanet added 13 points, including nine in the second half, and two blocks in the winning effort. Talicia Jackson, Michelle Kirk and Liz Leer also hit double-digits for the game finishing with 12, 11 and 10, respectively.

Saturday's game was the first time since AU's Nov. 21, 2004 meeting with William & Mary that five Eagles have scored in double figures.

Hayes, Jackson and Pam Stanfield each chipped in a game-high five assists as American totaled 20 on the game. Stanfield and Smith-Davidson pulled down five rebounds each to match N'Garsanet's game-high total.

Colgate was led by a trio of double digit scorers. Martin led all Raiders with 16 points and four assists, while Caitlin Gillard chipped in 15 points and five boards and Krista Moser added 14 points.

The Eagles return to action in PL play on Wednesday, as they host Army at 7 p.m. AU will look to even its conference record against the first place Black Knights and extend its winning streak to two.