LEWISBURG, Pa. – In a back-and-forth contest that included six ties and 15 lead changes, the American University women's basketball team came up short in a 60-54 overtime loss at Bucknell on Wednesday evening.

With the loss, the Eagles drop to 5-16 overall and 3-7 in the Patriot League, while the Bison improve to 15-6 overall and remain tied for first place in the league with a 9-1 PL record.

Nine different players scored for American, led by senior Ari Booth with 11 points and freshman Kaitlyn Lewis with 10 points.

For the Bison, Claire DeBoer scored a game-high 25 points, while Kate Walker added 11 points.

In the opening period, American scored the first basket of the game, but the Bison went on a 9-0 run to pull ahead with 4:57 on the clock. The Eagles came battling back, taking a 10-9 lead after a three-pointer by junior Jordan Light, but Bucknell hit a basket in the final 20 seconds of the first quarter to head into the second period with an 11-10 advantage.

American scored the first five points of the second quarter, but Bucknell responded with another run to pull ahead to a 20-17 lead. The period remained close over the last four and a half minutes, with the Bison taking a 24-23 lead into the intermission.

In the third period, the Eagles held a late one-point advantage before Bucknell scored four unanswered points in the final minute and a half to head into the fourth quarter with a 40-37 advantage.

Both teams struggled offensively in the fourth period, combining for just two points in the first six and a half minutes. Booth scored the first field goal of the quarter with 3:24 on the clock, while Lewis knocked down a three-pointer to give American a 43-41 advantage.

Bucknell regained the lead with a three-point play by DeBoer, but the Eagles again pulled ahead with a three-pointer from freshman Cecily Carl with 1:22 remaining. With the game coming down to the wire, Kyi English hit a jumper for the Bison with 6.2 seconds on the clock to send the contest into overtime.

In the extra period, DeBoer hit a three-pointer on Bucknell's first possession, and American never led again. The Bison knocked down six free throws in the final 90 seconds to secure the victory and put an end to the Eagles' hopes for an upset.

The Bison dominated on the boards, outrebounding the Eagles 48-28, including a 21-9 edge in the first half alone. Bucknell also had a significant advantage at the charity stripe, connecting on 18-of-28 foul shots, while American attempted just six free throws in the game.

The Eagles return home for their next game, hosting Lehigh on Saturday, Feb. 6, at 2 p.m.