The top-seeded American University women's basketball team had its hands full with No. 8-seed Lafayette in the Patriot League Quarterfinals on Thursday night in Bender Arena, but the Eagles escaped with a 59-54 victory to move to Monday's semifinals vs. No. 5 Holy Cross.

In a game that featured nine ties and 11 lead changes, American (23-6, 14-0 PL) closed the game on a 10-4 run over the final 5:07 to earn its 23rd victory of the season, which matches a program record with the 1997-98 team. The victory also marks AU's program-best 15th straight triumph.

Patriot League Player of the Year Lisa Strack led the way for American (23-6, 14-0 PL) with a game-high 19 points on 5-of-11 shooting along with 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. All-Patriot League First Team honoree Alexis Dobbs added 17 points on 6-of-12 from the field.

Trailing 50-49 nearing the five-minute mark of regulation, Dobbs knocked down a key three-pointer off a feed from Ebony Edwards to propel American back in front, 52-50. Strack followed with a pair of free throws and after two defensive stops, Edwards buried a 19-foot jumper from the left corner to push AU's advantage to six, 56-50, with three minutes remaining.

Patriot League Rookie of the Year Emily Homan cut the deficit for Lafayette (8-22, 2-12 PL) to four before Strack converted 1-of-2 free throws with 1:51 to go to give AU a 57-52 margin. But another Homan bucket trimmed AU's lead back to three as the clock approached the one-minute mark.

On AU's next possession, after an offensive rebound, Stephanie Anya missed a pair of free throws and the Leopards had the basketball with 54 seconds left and a chance to tie. As Lafayette's Linnel Macklin drove down the right side of the floor, Dobbs came up with the key defensive play of the game, drawing a charge and giving the ball back to AU with 43 seconds remaining.

Still trailing by three, the Leopards decided to play it out and they eventually forced a 30-second shot clock violation as AU's missed shot never touched the rim. Lafayette once again had an opportunity to tie the game, but Melissa Downey's three-pointer was blocked by AU's Ti'Asia McGeorge -- the second block of her career -- and Strack gathered the rebound with 3.9 seconds remaining. Strack knocked down both free throws on the other end to ice the game and set the final margin.

"Give credit to Lafayette for playing a great basketball game tonight," Head Coach Matt Corkery said. "Lafayette's length gave us trouble and we were never able to put a run together to break away from them. I thought we played really hard tonight and it was a quality win for us."

The Eagles move onto Monday's semifinals, which will be played in Bender Arena against fifth-seed Holy Cross. The Crusaders defeated No. 4 Army, 59-50, on Thursday night in West Point, N.Y. in another Patriot League Quarterfinal matchup. Tip on Monday is set for 7 p.m. and tickets are on-sale now by clicking here.