POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The American University women's basketball team (2-1) closed the two-game weekend at Marist undefeated on Saturday after battling back from a 13-point deficit to overcome Vermont (1-1), 68-61, in overtime.

HEAR FROM COACH GEBBIA...
"It has been a struggle for us in the second and third quarters so far this season. But to be able to come back after being down 13 to start the fourth quarter is a giant step for this group. They never gave up even when things weren't going our way. Riley DeRubbo was the spark we needed off the bench to take the pressure off of the starters. Happy to get the win but we still have some kinks to work out."

NOTEWORTHY

• This closes out the two-game homecoming weekend for head coach Megan Gebbia and assistant coaches Nikki Flores and Emily Stallings. Gebbia spent 10 years at Marist as an assistant and associate head coach while Flores and Stallings each had successful careers as Red Foxes.
• AU opened the weekend with a 59-52 win over Marist, one of the three teams on the Eagles' nonconference schedule who earned berths in last year's NCAA Tournament.
• This was the first overtime game for American since February 8, 2020, when AU outpaced Army in West Point, 67-62.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Senior Jade Edwards put up a dominant 27-point performance to lead the team. She added a team-high eight rebounds and three steals in her 40 minutes.
• Sophomore-transfer Riley DeRubbo also posted a season-high with a dozen, followed by 11 points from senior Emily Fisher. 
• The Eagles closed shooting 43.6 percent (24-55) from the field and 77.3 percent (17-22) from the line.
• AU outperformed the Catamounts on the boards, 40-27, but continued to struggle with possession, giving up 25 miscues. Vermont added 24 points off turnovers while the Eagles picked up 19 points off the Catamounts' 21.
• Both teams struggled from the perimeter, with AU going 3-for-15 (.200) and Vermont 6-for-19 (.316), but American controlled the paint, 38-30.
• Anna Olson led the way for the Catamounts with 16 points followed by 13 from Josie Larkins.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Eagles came out of the gate strong as Edwards put up a quick four points to give AU the first advantage. 
• Vermont landed within two at the media timeout, but it was all AU down the stretch as American closed with an 11-0 run to take a 13-point advantage into the break, 22-9.
• AU struggled to regain that momentum in the second quarter, though, shooting only 1 of 15 as Vermont closed. American managed to hold onto its lead, though, forcing six of Vermont's 21 turnovers and holding the Catamounts to only 11 attempts to head into halftime with a narrow 24-20 lead.
• Vermont continued to surge in the second half though as a pair of early baskets put them ahead by one within the first minute-and-a-half. The run continued until the 6:37 mark wen sophomore Emily Johns came off the bench and added a quick layup to bring the Eagles back within two. 
• A pair of free throws from Fisher shortly after tied the game at 28-28, but Vermont picked up the pace again and closed with a 13-0 run to take a 41-28 lead into the final 10 minutes.
• A three from DeRubbo in AU's first possession of the fourth quarter added the spark the team needed off the bench. American began steadily chipping away at the Vermont lead with DeRubbo adding one more trey and Edwards pitching in seven of her 27 points to tie the game at 43-43 with four minutes left on the clock. 
• It was a race to the finish down the stretch as a pair of free throws from Edwards put the Eagles back ahead for the first time since the opening minute of the third quarter. American held on to its lead until a trey from Vermont's Delaney Richason gave the Catamounts a one-point advantage. A clutch free throw from DeRubbo with 44 seconds on the clock tied the game up once again at 50-50. Both teams had looks to secure the regulation win but missed jumpers from Vermont's Josie Larkins and Edwards sent the game into overtime.
• The Eagles were quick to take control in extra time behind an early 5-0 run from Fisher and Edwards. Vermont managed to close the gap to within one, but American had the response with Fisher and DeRubbo adding another pair each.
• Although Vermont was able to capitalize on its possessions in the final 30 seconds, hitting five to keep AU within reach, late fouls put the Eagles on the line four times where they shot 5-for-8 to retain the lead.

UP NEXT...
American will close its opening four-game road stand on Wednesday with another homecoming trip, this time for senior Taylor Brown as the Eagles head to Minnesota for an 8 p.m. ET tip in Williams Arena.

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).