The American University women's basketball upset the last remaining unbeaten in the conference, holding on late for a 45-42 victory over Army in Bender Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Alexis Dobbs matched the game-high with 12 points, hitting the Eagles' lone three-pointer of the game, while Geleisa George added 10 off the bench. Michelle Holmes and Sarah Kiely led American with six boards apiece with Kiely notching a career-high three blocks. Dobbs dished out a team-best three assists for the Eagles. 

"There aren't too many big games in January…but it gave us the opportunity to bounce back quickly and show some character," said Head Coach Matt Corkery. "That's really what we talked about was having a great attitude in our preparation knowing that we had to play really, really hard to have a chance to win. I thought we did that, so I was happy with our mental toughness on a quick turnaround playing two really good teams this week."

American (11-8, 4-1) jumped out to an 8-4 lead before a pair of free throws from Ciara Jackson tied it at eight with 10:32 remaining in the half. The Black Knights made it a one-point game twice after back-to-back lay-ups from Olivia Schretzman as the Eagles called the timeout. Kiely came up with the block on Schretzman's next attempt, and Dobbs drained a fade-away triple at the buzzer to send American into the break with the 20-16 advantage. 

The Eagles outshot Army (15-5, 4-1) 32.0 to 24.1 percent from the floor and Dobbs's trey was the only three-pointer in the first half.

Kelsey Minato scored her first points of the game out of the intermission, laying it in as the shot clock expired to knot it at 20 at the 17:48 mark. Minato tied it again after back-to-back buckets before George put the Eagles up 28-24, laying it in over her shoulder. Army took its first lead of the game on a triple from Minato and a pair of free throws from Schretzman with 13:49 to play. 

The Eagles held Army scoreless for the next six and a half minutes as it took a 33-29 lead on a drive from Dobbs with 8:20 remaining. Minato hit her second three-pointer of the game to put the Black Knights on top 38-37 with 3:23 to go as the Eagles called the timeout. After Shaquilla Curtis tied it up after a miss, Dobbs inbounded it to George, who immediately laid it in to put American up by one, 39-38.

American took its largest lead with 1:46 remaining in the game. George passed it through the legs of the Army defenders to Holmes as she laid it in for the 43-38 advantage. The Black Knights made it a one-point game once again with 56.1 seconds left after consecutive buckets from Anna Simmers and Jordan Elliott. 

Army's attempt for the game-winner in the final six seconds was off the mark. Dobbs came up with the rebound and was instantly fouled. She went 1-of-2 from the charity stripe but Holmes tipped it away from Schretzman on the miss and was also fouled, hitting her second free throw with 0.6 seconds left on the clock. Army tried for the long inbound but the pass was broken up as the Eagles held on for the 45-42 win.

Army's leading scorer Simmers was held to just two points in the contest, while Minato and Schretzman matched the game-high with 12 apiece. Minato, Oertner and Schretzman each tallied seven boards with Oertner registering four blocks. Jen Hazlett led the team with four assists. 

American held the slight 32.6 to 30.4 percent advantage in field goal percentage with the Black Knights shooting 33.3 percent from beyond the arc compared to American's 9.1 percent. Army also held a 42-31 advantage in rebounds for the game.

The Eagles head out on a three-game road trip to close out the first half of conference play, facing Bucknell first on Wednesday, January 30 at 7 p.m. in Lewisburg, Pa. The game will be broadcast live on Patriot League All*Access.