Dec. 7, 2008
Box Score
WASHINGTON - Nicole Ryan's
game-high 17 points led the American University women's basketball
team to its third straight win, a 77-58 victory over Rhode Island
on Sunday at Bender Arena. The Eagles hit 10 three-point baskets in
the contest en route to their best shooting percentage of the
season at 57.4 percent (31-54).
The Eagles trailed 12-7 early in the first half but embarked on
a 16-2 run led by a barrage of three-point baskets to open up a
23-14 margin. American connected on 5-of-7 from behind the arc in
the first 13 minutes of play and led 31-20 following a Kristin Coles
lay-up at 6:57. Nicole Ryan's third
trey of the game at 2:23 gave AU a 43-26. The Eagles defense
applied a tremendous amount of pressure on the Rams, forcing 14
first half turnovers, while taking a 48-28 lead into the
intermission on another Ryan three at the buzzer.
American shot an outstanding 66.7 percent from behind the
three-point line in the first half, as four Eagles combined for
8-of-12 from long range.
Rhode Island closed the gap to 12, down 52-40, at 13:13 after
outscoring American 12-4 coming out of the break. The Eagles
struggled to regain the shooting success they found in the first
half and had nine turnovers in the first 11 minutes of the second
half, but played well on the defensive side of the ball to maintain
a double-digit lead.
The Eagles built their biggest lead of the game with 3:39 left
in regulation on an Ashley Yencho three
followed by a Janelle McDonald
lay-in, giving American a 22-point, 71-47 advantage. Yencho and
McDonald would each add another basket down the stretch as American
easily claimed a 77-58 victory.
Four Eagles scored in double-digists, with Ryan leading all
scorers with 17 points and adding three assists. Kirk finished with
14 points (6-of-7), Leer had 12 points and Yencho contributed 10
off the bench. Pam Stanfield had a
game-high six assists and added a team-high five rebounds.
Sierra Cooper led Rhode Island with 12 points and six rebounds.
Ebony Evans also picked up six boards for the Rams in the defeat.
American will have a 12-day lay-off before returning to play on
Friday, Dec. 19 when the Eagles welcome Princeton at Bender Arena
for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
