The American University women's basketball team hosted Quinnipiac Wednesday evening in Bender Arena and came up on the short end of a 72-59 decision.

Alexis Dobbs led American (7-5) with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including 3-for-6 from beyond-the-arc. Jen Dumiak was also in double figures with a career-best 12 points off the bench, which came on 5-of-8 from the floor.

Quinnipiac (8-3) led the entire game and was sparked by 52.9 percent shooting (9-of-17) from three-point range. For the game, the Bobcats shot an even 50 percent from the field compared to 39.3 percent for the Eagles.

AU trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half before putting together a 9-2 run late in the half to get within eight, 35-27, at intermission. The Eagles opened the second half strong, cutting the deficit to 40-36 at the 15:21 mark and again getting within four points at 45-41.

Quinnipiac responded with a 9-1 spurt to open up a 12-point advantage, 54-42, midway through the half. The Eagles, however, kept fighting, putting together one last charge with seven unanswered points to get back within four, 54-50, with 7:54 to play. But the Bobcats scored the next five points and eventually opened up a double-digit lead en route to the 13-point victory.

The Eagles will close out the 2011 portion of their schedule when they host Western Michigan on Friday, December 30 at 7 p.m. in Bender Arena. Tickets are available by clicking here and live video will be available on Eagles Vision TV.