A balanced scoring attack, led by a career-high 14 points from freshman Sarah Kiely, paced the American University women's basketball team to a 66-38 victory over Bucknell Wednesday evening in Bender Arena. Three other Eagles scored in double figures as Lisa Strack added 13 points while Stephanie Anya and Liz Leer each chipped in 10.

The victory improves American's record to 16-7 overall and 6-3 in Patriot League action. Following Wednesday's other conference results, AU is now alone in second place in the PL, only one game back of first-place Navy (7-2).

American left little in doubt against Bucknell (6-15, 3-6 PL) as the Eagles opened the game with buckets by Anya, Alexis Dobbs and Leer to take a 7-0 lead in the first two minutes. The Bison responded to trim AU's lead to 9-7, but the Eagles fired back with the next 12 points make the score 21-7 nine-plus minutes into the game. Strack began the spurt with a three-point play, and it was followed with back-to-back buckets by Kiely, a three from Ashley Yencho and an Anya basket.

After a Bison field goal, American continued to apply the pressure, scoring seven unanswered points on a driving layup from Ebony Edwards and consecutive field goals by Kiely. In all, AU's run was 19-2, putting the Eagles in front, 28-9, with 8:08 to play in the half.

Minutes later, Ryan knocked down back-to-back threes and the Eagles took a 36-12 advantage into halftime. Kiely led all scorers with 11 at intermission on 4-of-5 shooting as eight Eagles' scored in the opening 20 minutes.  AU also forced 14 first-half turnovers by Bucknell, helping to set the 24-point halftime margin.

"I think we were really determined early in the game," remarked Head Coach Matt Corkery. "We got off to a good start, made some shots, and really strung together a lot of good defensive possessions. I think it's a combination of being ready to play and getting off to a good start."

Anya began the second half in a similar fashion to how the first period ended with a bucket on the opening possession. The margin remained between 22 and 26 for the majority of the half until the Eagles scored seven straight points to push their lead to a game-high 32 points at 64-32 with 2:32 remaining.

American shot 52.0 percent from the floor in the game, including a red-hot 52.6 percent (10-of-19) from beyond-the-arc. Six different Eagles knocked down threes, including two apiece from Kiely, Leer, Ryan and Strack.

Kiely's 14-point output came on 5-of-8 from the field, while Strack scored her 13 on 5-of-11. Anya (5-9) and Leer (4-6) each shot over 50 percent as well. On the glass, Leer grabbed a team-best seven boards, while Yencho dished out a team-leading four assists.

"We want to be an inside-out kind of team. We want to get our post players touches," added Corkery. "Obviously Sarah coming in and giving us a big spark off the bench was huge."

Defensively, the Eagles held Bucknell to 34.1 percent shooting and only 1-of-9 (11.1 percent) from three-point range. The Bison committed 24 turnovers, which included nine by Bucknell's leading scorer Shelby Romine. Edwards led the Eagles defensively with four steals.

The Eagles will hit the road this weekend, travelling to Hamilton, N.Y., for a showdown at Colgate on Saturday, February 12. Tip time is slated for 2 p.m.

$website.include("/video/Womens_Basketball/2010-11/Postgame_Highlights/20110209_WBB_Bucknell_Highlights.flv")