Game 2  ·  American (0-1, 0-0 PL) vs. Villanova (0-2, 0-0 Big East)
Thursday, Nov. 14, 2018  ·  7 p.m. ET  ·  Washington, D.C. (Bender Arena)
All-Time Record: Villanova leads, 3-0

Live Broadcast: Patriot League Network
Talent: Dan Laing (pxp), Jody Lavin-Patrick (color)

WASHINGTON - The American University women's basketball team returns home for the first time during the 2019-20 season this week, as the Eagles host Villanova (0-2, 0-0 Big East) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 14, to open play in Bender Arena.

THE SERIES

• The Wildcats lead the short series against the Eagles, 3-0.
• The two teams first met during the 2008 WNIT when Villanova knocked AU out in a tight 53-52 victory. The Eagles faced them once again in postseason play in 2012 with a 58-39 loss during the WNIT First Round.
• The last meeting was two years ago during the 2017 Vermont Thanksgiving Tournament. The Wildcats narrowly came away with the neutral site victory, outpacing the Eagles onrushing offense down the stretch, 65-60.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES

• American dropped its first game of the 2019-20 season on Sunday with an 81-69 loss to Ohio in Athens.
• Four players landed in double-figures to lead the Eagles, starting with senior Kaitlyn Marenyi who had her highest production ever in a season-opener with 16 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals, one block, and only one turnover in a full 40 minutes of play.
• Sophomores Jade Edwards and Emily Fisher followed with 15 points each to tie their career-highs. Fisher also earned a new personal record with eight assists while Edwards paced the team with seven rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.
• Senior Morgan Bartner earned her second career start in the red, white, and blue, and picked up a dozen points to help lead the squad.
• American boasts a young squad in its hunt for a fifth postseason berth since head coach Megan Gebbia took the reins in 2013. Of the 13 players, nine are underclassmen with four freshmen and five sophomores, and four are upperclassmen with junior Indeya Sanders, and seniors TaeKenya Cleveland, Bartner, and Marenyi.
• The Eagles closed the 2018-19 season with a share of the regular-season Patriot League title alongside Bucknell before falling to the Bison in the PL Championship game. AU advanced to the WNIT First Round and fell to Penn.
• American was picked fifth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll behind Lehigh, Holy Cross, Bucknell, and Boston University.
• Edwards is the lone returning All-Patriot League returner after she was selected for the All-Rookie Team last season. 
• Marenyi also highlights the returning class after she smashed through the previous single-season three-point percentage record with .464 shooting (32-69).

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS

• Villanova's veteran squad comes into the midweek matchup with a 0-2 record after losses to George Washington, 68-56, and James Madison, 56-52, to open the season.
• This is already set up to be a historic season for the program, as head coach Harry Perretta announced his retirement at the end of his 43rd season at the helm of the Wildcats.
• So far, it has been Madison Siegrist pacing the team off the bench with 28 points and 14 rebounds over the two games. 
• Bridget Herlihy is next with 22 points, followed by Mary Gedaka (18) and Brianna Herlihy (15).
• Brianna Herlihy also leads the team with seven assists while Siegrist and Bridget Herlihy have each thrown up three blocks.
• As a team, Villanova has averaged 54.0 ppg off .325 shooting from the floor and .231 from three-point range, and pulled down 38.0 rebounds per game.

For the latest on American University Women's Basketball, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_WBasketball) and Instagram (@auwbasketball).

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON TICKETS

• General admission season tickets are $80 for adults and $50 for youth (17 & below) / seniors (65+).
• Full exchange for games you cannot make – as well as discounts, and special benefits throughout the year. All season ticket holders receive priority ticketing for all non-Patriot League postseason tournament games.
• Purchase online at AUEagles.com/Tickets

GROUP TICKETS are available for purchase for groups of 10+ and 40+. Tickets start at just $2.

INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKETS are available for purchase now to all home games starting at $5 per ticket. Purchase online at AUEagles.com/Tickets

AU STUDENTS - Undergraduate, graduate, and Washington College of Law (WCL) students are admitted free of charge to all home basketball games with a valid AU ID.

For further inquiries on season ticket packages, mini-plans, group, or individual game tickets, call (202) 885-TIXX (8499) or e-mail clawed@american.edu. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Bender Arena Ticket Office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For further updates, news, and to purchase tickets, visit AUEagles.com/Tickets.