WASHINGTON - The American University women's basketball team (1-1) picked up the program's first win over Villanova (0-3) on Thursday with a dominant 76-54 win to open the 2019-20 home slate.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• A pair of career-highs paced the way for the Eagles as sophomores Jade Edwards and Emily Fisher both broke the 20-point mark for the first time in their careers. The pair opened the season tying their personal bests at Ohio on Sunday with 15 points each.
• Edwards led the way with 24 points and eight rebounds to just miss on her third career double-double. She shot a perfect 3-for-3 from the line, 9 of 14 from the floor, and 3 of 6 from long range.
• Fisher was close behind with 22 points off a perfect 2-for-2 from three-point range, 9-for-11 from the field, and 2 of 2 from the charity stripe. She also picked up three rebounds, five assists and three steals without giving up a single turnover in 33 minutes of play.
• Senior Kaitlyn Marenyi was also back in double-digits after scoring 16 to open the season against Ohio. She picked up 14 against the Wildcats alongside four rebounds, two steals and one assist. She also gave up only one turnover for the second consecutive game.
• Junior Indeya Sanders paced the team on the boards with nine rebounds and pitched in a team-high five assists alongside Fisher. She also led the team on the defensive end with three blocks.
• The Eagles shot an impressive 51.9 percent from the floor (27-52), 38.9 percent from three-point range (7-18), and 88.2 percent from the line (15-17).
• They outpaced Villanova in points off turnovers 17-6, points in the paint, 30-22, and fast break points, 4-0. The Wildcats held the advantage in second chance points, 12-4, and bench points, 31-5.
• For the third consecutive game, Madison Siegrist came off the bench to lead Villanova with 22 points and eight rebounds. Mary Gedaka was the only other player to reach double-figures with 15 points.
• The Wildcats closed shooting 32.3 percent from the floor (20-62), 25 percent from three-point range (7-28), and 77.8 percent from the line (7-9).
• The Eagles dominated from the outset, holding Villanova to only two points until the final two minutes of the first quarter. By the break, the Eagles picked up an 18-point lead at 23-5 behind a nine-point effort from Edwards and seven points from Marenyi.
• A 10-2 run from Villanova's Siegrist midway through the second quarter but the Eagles' lead to 10 at 32-22, but a quick pair of baskets from Fisher maintained the cushion as the teams entered halftime at 38-24.
• Fisher kept the momentum going in the opening seconds of the second half, hitting a quick three to rebuild a 17-point margin before a series of free throws from Gedaka and Cameron Onken bumped the lead back down to 14.
• Both teams hit a dry spell midway through the third with no score change for nearly two minutes before senior Morgan Bartner got the Eagles going with four points off the line.
• Another pair of free throws from Sanders and a three-point play from Edwards after she was fouled on the layup picked up the largest lead of the game for AU at 21 points, 52-31.
• By the end of the third quarter the Wildcats cut back into the lead at 60-45, but a layup from freshman Lauren Stack and a trey from Fisher rebuilt the 20-point cushion to open the final quarter.
• An Edwards' three with just over 5:00 remaining in the game delivered AU's largest lead at 70-47, and they maintained a +20-point cushion through the final whistle.

NEXT UP
American will be back home on Monday, Nov. 18, to host High Point at 7 p.m. for the team's first Pride Night. AU students get in free with a student ID, and fans can use promo code AUpride19 for discounted tickets at AUEagles.com/Tickets.

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.

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.