The American University women's basketball team posted a 70-50 victory over Virginia Union in an exhibition game to open the 2012-13 season.

Arron Zimmerman led the Eagles with 21 points, going 8-of-10 from the floor and 2-for-3 from three-point range. Jen Dumiak registered double-digit points for American as well, tallying 15 with three treys. Dumiak, Zimmerman and freshman Abigail Fogg led the team in rebounds, with each recording five boards. Alexis Dobbs directed the American offense with 10 assists, adding four steals.

"We definitely want to be an up-tempo transition team but I think we learned today that along with that tempo comes really good decision-making, and we need to do a better job of taking care of the ball," said Head Coach Matt Corkery. "I thought Virginia Union did a great job of putting pressure on us, making us start on our toes, making us uncomfortable, things like that so I think it's a good learning experience from that standpoint."

Dumiak posted five straight points early in the game to open a 9-0 run for American as the Eagles took a 20-9 lead with 7:38 remaining in the half. Virginia Union answered with eight consecutive points to cut the lead to three, 20-17. Back-to-back jumpers from Geleisa George and Dumiak put the lead back at 10 and Michelle Holmes converted on 1-of-2 free throws to send American into the intermission with a 30-19 advantage.

The Eagles shot 40.6 percent from the field in the first half, with the Panthers shooting 31.6 percent from the floor.

American built its lead to start the second half, with Dumiak sinking a three after a steal from Dobbs 21 seconds in. Zimmerman gave the Eagles their largest lead of the game on a lay-up inside the paint at the 15:49 mark, but the Panthers were able to answer with six straight points from Ashle Freeman to cut the advantage to 44-28.

Zimmerman continued to drive the American offense, converting on a three-point play with just over six minutes to play and adding five more to put American up 62-40. Virginia Union cut it to a 17-point game on a pair of free throws from Freeman, but the Eagles regained their 20-point advantage on Zimmerman's second trey of the day. Shaquilla Curtis added a lay-up with just over a minute to play and the Panthers' ShaHadah Barret responded with one of her own to close out the scoring for the 70-50 final score.

Freeman led Virginia Union with 19 points with Danielle Ferguson adding 11. Denesha Tatum posted a team-high eight boards for the Panthers.

American shot 49.1 percent for the game, shooting 60.0 percent in the second half, and shot 35.0 percent from beyond the arc. Virginia Union shot 31.4 percent from the floor, going just 1-for-3 from three-point range.

American will open the season on a four-game road trip, taking on Western Michigan on Saturday, November 10 at 2 p.m. The Eagles return to Bender Arena for their home opener on Tuesday, November 27 at 7 p.m. when they host UMBC.