WORCESTER, Mass. – In a back-and-forth game that featured 10 ties and 12 lead changes, the American University women's basketball team fell short in a 59-54 loss to Holy Cross on Tuesday evening at the Hart Center.

Sophomore Michael Harris scored a career-high 12 points to lead the Eagles, while senior Ari Booth and junior Lauren Crisler added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

For the Crusaders, Infiniti Thomas-Waheed led all scorers with 21 points, while Molly Hourigan added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

American (4-15, 2-6) led through much of the opening quarter, shooting over 57 percent from the field to take a 17-14 advantage at the end of the period.

The Eagles extended their lead in the second period, going up 28-21 with under five minutes on the clock. However, hot three-point shooting by Thomas-Waheed ignited a 12-5 run by the Crusaders to end the half tied at 33-33. 

Both teams struggled offensively in the third quarter, but a late three-pointer by the Crusaders in the final minute of the period put Holy Cross on top, 45-42, heading into the final stanza.

The Eagles began the fourth quarter with a 7-2 run, capped off by a three-pointer from sophomore Maria Liddane, to take a 49-47 lead with 5:29 remaining, but a three-point play by Hourigan put the Crusaders back on top.

American took another lead after a pair of free throws by freshman Elina Koskimies with just over two minutes remaining. However, Holy Cross (8-11, 5-3) responded with a three-pointer to regain the lead and the Eagles were unable to get closer than two points as the Crusaders iced the game at the free throw line.

The Eagles are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 30, when they host Colgate in a 2 p.m. contest.