WEST POINT, N.Y. – Outscored 43-18 in the second half, the American University women's basketball team fell to preseason Patriot League favorite Army West Point, 87-51, Saturday afternoon at Christl Arena.

Freshman Kaitlyn Lewis scored a career-high 15 points to lead the Eagles, who dropped to 6-18 overall and 4-9 in the Patriot League.

Kelsey Minato finished with 22 points to lead four Black Knights in double-figures scoring, as Army improved to 21-2 overall and tied for first in the league with a 12-1 mark.

Army led from the start, scoring a pair of free throws on its first possession of the game to set the tone of the contest. The Black Knights, who were 8-of-8 from the line in the opening period, pushed their advantage to 14 points before closing out the first quarter with a 26-14 lead.

The Black Knights extended their lead in the second period, going up 33-16 with 7:14 on the clock. The Eagles responded with a 10-0 run to cut the margin to single digits, but Army went into the locker room with a 44-33 advantage.

While the Eagles shot over 53 percent in the first half, they gave up a significant advantage at the foul line, as the Black Knights were 19-of-22 from the charity stripe in the first 20 minutes. Meanwhile, the Eagles attempted just four free throws, all in the second period.

Army pulled away in the second half, opening the third period on a 12-0 run. The Black Knights, who entered the final stanza with a 73-42 lead, shot over 53 percent in the second half to run away with the victory.

American, which struggled with foul trouble throughout the game, was outrebounded 41-25 for the contest and was just 9-of-17 from the foul line and scoreless from three-point range. Meanwhile, Army shot over 86 percent from the line and knocked down 7-of-12 shots from beyond the arc.

The Eagles are back on the road on Wednesday, Feb. 17, as they visit Lafayette in a 7 p.m. contest.