Dec. 2, 2008

Box Score

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Nine different Eagles figured into the score column to lead American to a 66-40 win over University of Maryland-Eastern Shore on Tuesday in non-conference women's basketball action at W.P. Hytche Athletic Center. The Eagles improve to 5-3 on the season, while the Lady Hawks fall to 0-5.

The Eagles opened the game with 13 straight points, sparked by six from Liz Leer, before the Hawks got on the board with a basket by Kanzes Battin at 15:03. UMES would score the next six points to cut the AU lead to 13-6 with 11:56 left in the half.

Nicole Ryan tacked on her second three-point basket of the game at 10:29 to double the Eagles lead, 18-9, and AU would build a double-digit lead, up 23-11, at 8:05 after three Michelle Kirk points. The offense continued to hit shots the duration of the first half, as Talicia Jackson found her touch from the arc, and the Eagles led 33-22 at the two minute mark. A pair of Kirk free throws in the closing seconds sent the Eagles into the intermission with a 35-23 advantage.

The pace in the second half slowed down considerably, but the Eagles maintained a 14-point, 44-30, lead with 10 minutes left in regulation, with Kirk tallying six of American's nine points. Adobi Agbasi had five of the Hawks' seven points at the midway point.

American built its biggest lead of the game with 8:26 remaining in the game, when Leer's jumper gave the Eagles a 22-point, 52-30 advantage. UMES was not able to generate enough offense to make a run at the AU lead and the Eagles were able to convert turnoevers into easy baskets and cruised to a 66-40 win.

Leer scored a game-high 14 points followed by Kirk's 13. Talicia Jackson continued her quest to the three-point record, recording three treys for nine points. Ryan also finished with nine points.

Agbasi led UMES with nine points, while Tiffany Reid picked up a game-high six rebounds.

American returns to action on Sunday, December 7, when they host Rhode Island at 2 p.m. at Bender Arena.