Feb. 21, 2009

Box Score

WASHINGTON - The American University women's basketball team lost at Holy Cross on Saturday, 58-55, to fall to 18-9 overall and 8-4 in the Patriot League. The Eagles were led by Talicia Jackson who scored 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from three, Nicole Ryan who netted 11 with three three-pointers and Pam Stanfield who dished out six assists.

American fell behind early as Holy Cross opened the game with a 9-0 run. The Eagles cut their deficit to three points with a 9-3 run of their own to bring the score to 19-16 before both teams went scoreless for a seven minute stretch. Three three-pointers from AU propelled the team to a 23-6 run and gave the Eagles a 14 point advantage, 39-25. The Crusaders bounced back before the half and closed their deficit to six, 30-24.

Holy Cross retook the lead after the break with a 14-2 stretch, 38-32. The teams traded baskets over the next several minutes and with less than seven to play Holy Cross held on to a four-point lead. The Eagles were able to overtake the Crusaders and went ahead by four with under 3:00 remaining but a 10-6 Holy Cross run down the stretch stole the victory away from American, 58-55.

Jackson scored a team-high 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting with all her makes coming from behind the arc and grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Ryan added 11 points in the losing effort with three trey's and added two assists. Stanfield dished out six assists and Lisa Strack contributed seven points.

American will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at Navy. Tipoff from Annapolis, Md., is scheduled for 7 p.m.