The American University women's basketball team snapped its four-game losing streak and controls its own fate in the 2013 Patriot League Tournament after a 54-43 win over Bucknell on Wednesday night in Bender Arena. The win also lifted Head Coach Matt Corkery to his 100th career victory. 

Geleisa George registered a career-high 17 points while Alexis Dobbs chipped in 11 points, shooting 4-for-9 from the floor. Dobbs also led the team with six rebounds and five assists. Shaquilla Curtis tallied a career-high five steals.

"I was excited that we came in early and built some momentum," said Coach Corkery. "I was really excited with how we defended in the first half. We held them to 19 percent and did a pretty good job rebounding the ball." 

Arron Zimmerman opened the scoring with a spot-up three at the top of the key. The Bison came back within one, but a triple from Sarah Kiely gave American a 12-6 advantage with 14:04 left in the first half. Dobbs added another three-pointer for the Eagles and back-to-back drives from Dobbs and George gave American the 21-12 lead. A free throw from Curtis and a baseline drive from George put the Eagles up by double-figures, 26-14, with 2:23 remaining and Ti'Asia McGeorge drained a three-pointer at the end of the half to send American into the intermission with the 30-15 lead.

American (14-13, 7-6) shot 40.0 percent from the field, hitting four three-pointers, while the Bison were held to 19.2 percent shooting from the floor in the first half. The Bison held a 22-18 advantage on the glass.

Shelby Romine tallied back-to-back buckets for Bucknell (13-15, 4-9) to open the half and end the Bison's nearly eight minute scoring drought from the field. A three-point play from Alyssa Dunn made it an 11-point contest with 13:02 to play but a 10-0 run by the Eagles gave American its largest lead of the game, 46-26, with 8:18 remaining. 

The Bison called a timeout and answered with a 13-3 run to make it a 10-point game once again. Dobbs ended the streak with a pair of free throws and Kiely drilled in her second three-pointer of the game for the 54-39 lead with 2:12 to play. Felicia Mgbada hit a pair of free throws and Tyler Craig added a bucket for the Bison to close out the scoring for the 54-43 final score.

Romine led Bucknell with 11 points, going 5-for-9 from the field, while Lindsay Horbatuck posted 11 rebounds. Katherine Harris dished out four assists for the Bison. Bucknell held a 39-33 advantage in rebounds for the game. 

American held a 36.5 to 30.0 edge in field goal percentage, and hit five three-pointers with Bucknell finishing 0-for-7 from beyond the arc.

Corkery became the fastest coach in program history to reach 100 career wins, doing so in just five seasons. He is the third coach at American to reach the mark.

"Good teams win games, players win games, so that's really what it's about to me," said Corkery. "I think its a great accomplishment, but I'd really like people to focus more on what it means for our program and how it speaks to our basketball program, especially with all of the players who have played here."

American is currently tied for third in the Patriot League standings and a win on Saturday would secure a home quarterfinal game for the Eagles.

The Eagles host Lafayette in its regular season finale on Saturday, March 2 at 2 p.m. Saturday's game also marks Senior Day, where American will honor the accomplishments of its senior student-athlete, Stephanie Anya. The game will be broadcast live on Patriot League All*Access.