The American University women's basketball team battled back from an 18-point deficit in the second half but couldn't complete a comeback as it dropped its fourth straight Patriot League contest to Army, 61-46, on Saturday afternoon in West Point, N.Y. 

Geleisa George matched her career-high with 13 points, going 5-for-7 from the field, with Alexis Dobbs and Sarah Kiely chipping in nine points apiece. Kiely added a team-high 10 rebounds and Dobbs notched four assists.

"Army's ability to get to the foul line was a major factor in the outcome of today's game," said Head Coach Matt Corkery. "We need to do a better job of defending without putting teams on the line. We shot over 50 percent from the field, which is a good number, but turnovers kept us from getting as many shots as we needed to close the margin." 

Army (20-7, 9-3) tallied the first six points of the game before Stephanie Anya put the Eagles on the board at the 15:21 mark. The Black Knights took an 11-point advantage off a 7-0 run and Anna Simmers hit the first triple of the game for the 22-12 lead with 4:08 remaining. Dobbs answered on the other end, hitting American's first three-pointer of the game. A Kiely putback on a George miss from the foul line brought the Eagles within six, but Kelsey Minato hit a three to close out the scoring and send the Black Knights into the break with a 29-20 advantage.

American (13-13, 6-6) held the slight 50.0 to 45.5 percent advantage from the field, with both teams shooting 50.0 percent from beyond the arc. 

The Black Knights came out of the half on a 9-0 run for its largest lead of the game as the Eagles called a timeout. Ari Booth ended American's scoring drought and American went on a 8-0 run after an Army offensive foul to cut its deficit to 40-30 with 11:25 to play.

Dobbs hit her second three-pointer of the afternoon to make it an eight-point game and Kiely added another triple to cut it to seven, 45-38, with 8:25 remaining. Army was able to hold off American's comeback and secure the victory from the foul line, closing out the game going 6-for-6 from the charity stripe for the 61-46 win. 

The Black Knights locked up the second home quarterfinal game of the Patriot League tournament with the win. American is now fourth in the conference standings. The Eagles four-game losing streak in conference play is its longest since 2007.

Minato led three double-digit scorers for the Black Knights with 20 points, going 6-for-12 from the floor and 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. Jen Hazlett led Army with eight rebounds with the team holding a 29-20 advantage on the glass. Simmers notched four assists and Hazlett tallied four steals.

American finished the contest outshooting Army 51.4 to 42.2 percent from the floor. The Black Knights held the advantage from beyond the arc, hitting four three-pointers to American's three. Army also held a 86.4 to 41.7 percent advantage from the foul line, attempting 10 more shots for the game.

The Eagles will close out the regular season in Bender Arena and will face Bucknell on Wednesday, February 27 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on Patriot League All*Access.