Game 11  ·  American (4-6, 0-0 PL) vs. Colgate (8-3, 0-0 PL)
Thursday, Jan. 2  ·  7 p.m.  ·  Washington, D.C. (Bender Arena)
All-Time Record: American leads, 35-6

WASHINGTON - The American University women's basketball team (4-6) will open 2020 at home on January 2 with its first game of Patriot League play, as the Eagles host Colgate (8-3) at 7 p.m. in Bender Arena.

SERIES HISTORY

• AU has dominated the series against the Raiders with a 35-6 overall record dating back to 2002.
• The Eagles enter the midweek matchup on a 26-game win streak against Colgate, including the 71-66 victory in Hamilton, N.Y., last season which saw a single-game program record 37 points from then-senior Cecily Carl.

LAST TIME OUT

• American is riding some momentum heading into league play after picking up its second consecutive win on Dec. 22 over crosstown rival George Washington, 66-53. 
• Senior Kaitlyn Marenyi paced the Eagles for the second consecutive game with another 16-point performance, hitting 4 of 6 from long range for her most efficient performance of the season from the perimeter (.667). 
• Junior Indeya Sanders also continued to lead AU with the team's best all-around performance, pitching in a team-high seven assists, two steals and two blocks to go along with her 11 points and four rebounds. 
• All nine Eagles who put in time added to the final tally for the highest bench production of the season (16). 
• AU picked up 18 points off GW's 14 turnovers, but the Colonials outpaced the Eagles in the paint, 32-18, and in second chance points, 15-7. 
• Miscues troubled both teams in the early minutes of the game, with American giving up four turnovers and GW two within the first four minutes. But a three from sophomore Jade Edwards and a 5-0 solo run from Marenyi put the Eagles up 10-4 coming out of the media timeout. The Colonials snuck back within three by the end of the stanza, 14-11. 
• This was the most complete win of the season for AU, as the Eagles led all four quarters for the first time this year, eventually building up to a 17-point lead by the closing minute of the fourth quarter. 

#AUWBB vs. THE PATRIOT LEAGUE 

• American holds a 240-120 overall record (.668) against Patriot League teams, and are 191-89 (.682) since joining the league in 2001-02. 
• The Eagles have been one of the powerhouses in the Patriot League over the past two seasons, accumulating a record of 32-4 during the regular season with losses to only Bucknell (3) and Navy. 
• Holy Cross is the only team in the conference that holds an advantage over AU with a series record of 22-19. 

PROTECT THIS HOUSE 

• The Eagles are on 42-7 at home since the start of the 2016-17 season, including an undefeated 23-0 run that ranked sixth in Division I before ending with a loss to Ohio on Dec. 29, 2018. 
• In the Megan Gebbia era, the Eagles are 71-23 (.755) in Bender Arena, including 53-12 (.815) against Patriot League opponents. Among the highlights in her six seasons was the program's first undefeated season at home since the 1970s in 2017-18.  

#AUWBB IN PL OPENERS 

• The Eagles are 12-6 in Patriot League openers since joining the league in 2001, including a 3-0 record against the Raiders and a 5-3 record at home. 
• AU is on a 4-0 run in PL openers at Bender Arena - the last time the Eagles lost to open the conference season at home was against Lehigh on Jan. 12, 2008 (55-37). 

KEEP IT CLEAN 

• American leads the PL and is 23rd in Division I for fewest personal fouls per game, averaging only 14.0 per game and allowing opponents only 10.9 free throw attempts per game. 
• Ohio appeared on the line more than any AU opponent so far this season with 18 free throw attempts while Villanova (9), Saint Joseph's (5), and George Washington (2) were all held to under 10. 

FIVE ON FIVE 

• The Eagles have kept a fairly consistent starting lineup through the first nine games of the season - only Emily Fisher and Taylor Brown have moved in and out of the starting five. Kaitlyn Marenyi, Morgan Bartner, Indeya Sanders, and Jade Edwards have started every game. 
• Sanders (35.3), Edwards (33.6), and Marenyi (32.9) are all averaging over 30 min./game. In her six starts, Fisher has averaged 29.5 min./game, and Brown has averaged 27.5 in her four starts. 
• Of the six starters this season, five have hit new career-highs so far - Edwards (24 pts., 5 assists), Fisher (22 pts., 8 assists, 3 steals), Bartner (18 pts., 7 reb.), Sanders (4 steals, 3 blocks), and Brown (11 pts., 5 reb., 3 assists, 2 blocks).
• The starting five has been dominant for AU, accounting for 87.2 percent of scoring (52.3 ppg) and 72.8 percent of rebounds (21.7 rpg). 
• Although the team is holding a -4.2 scoring margin against its opponents, the starting five has actually outscored the opposition by 7.1 ppg. 

SCOUTING THE RAIDERS 

• Colgate is also riding high coming into Patriot League play as it leads the PL with an 8-3 record for its best nonconference performance in program history. 
• The Raiders only three losses of the season came on the road against Saint Louis, 61-51, Northwestern, 73-44, and Alabama, 72-52. They closed their nonconference slate with a 74-58 win over Wagner on Dec. 22. 
• Colgate reached deep into its bench against the Seahawks with 14 players putting in time and 10 scoring at least two points. 
• Rachel Thompson paced the team with 15 points followed by 13 from Tegan Graham. Ava Williams added a team-high 10 boards and nine points to fall just shy of a double-double. 
• Thompson leads the team's overall scoring efforts with 15.8 ppg, followed by Taylor Langan (9.5) and Abby Schubiger (9.3). A Preseason All-League selection, Thompson also averages a team-high 8.1 rpg and 5.4 assists per game to lead the PL. She also ranks third in the league for scoring and fifth in rebounding. 
• Colgate is second in the PL with its 69.8 ppg and 7.6 scoring margin, allowing only 62.2 ppg from its opponents. The Raiders also lead with 17.1 assists per game and a 6.09 turnover margin, giving up 13.5 turnovers 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

• Available for purchase for groups of 10+ and 40+. Tickets start at just $2.

INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKETS

• 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.