Game 9  ·  American (6-2, 0-0 PL) vs Towson (8-1, 0-0 CAA)
Saturday, December 11  ·  2 p.m. ET  ·  Bender Arena (Washington, D.C.) 
Broadcast Talent: Dan Laing (pxp) and Kaitlyn Marenyi (analyst)

WASHINGTON - The American University women's basketball team (6-2) will look to pick up their fifth consecutive win and fourth at home on Saturday with a 2 p.m. tip against head coach Megan Gebbia's alma mater, Towson (8-1)

PROOF OF VACCINATION REQUIRED FOR ENTRY INTO BENDER ARENA

• In the interest of public health and in accordance with American University's commitment to maintaining a vaccinated community on campus, AU Athletics will require proof of vaccination for all spectators 12 and older when attending sporting events inside Bender Arena.
• This policy is effective October 21, 2021. Proof of vaccination can be achieved by showing one's vaccine card, a photo of one's card or a digital vaccine record.
• Due to AU's requirement that current students and faculty/staff be vaccinated, those with a current AU ID will not need to show further proof of vaccination.
• Read the full policy HERE.

MASK POLICY AT AU ATHLETICS EVENTS 

• Individuals are required to wear masks to all American University athletics indoor AND outdoor events, per current AU guidelines.  
• We also encourage social distancing at all of our venues. 

BENDER ARENA PARKING ADVISORY

• All those attending events at Bender Arena through January 14, with the exception of commencement on Dec. 18-19, should be prepared to use alternate parking on campus in the Katzen Arts Center on Massachusetts Avenue or the School of International Service (SIS) on Nebraska Avenue.
• The 5th through 7th (roof) levels of the Bender Arena Garage are currently blocked for all vehicular traffic due to repairs. These floors will not be accessible for pedestrian or vehicular traffic during the project.
• Parking in all general areas on campus is free after 5 p.m. and on weekends.
• Find a detailed campus map here (PDF).

SCOUTING THE TIGERS

• Towson is ranked 21st in the latest CollegeInsider Mid-Major Poll after hitting a five-game win streak. They were handed their only loss of the season with a 100-52 dismantling by NC State on Nov. 15.
• The Tigers picked up a 70-56 victory over UMass Lowell on Wednesday behind a 25-point effort from Aleah Nelson.
• Allie Kubek added 16 on the day while Skye Williams led the bench with 10 points.
• Nelson also led with nine rebounds and six assists while Rayne Tucker and Anissa Rivera added eight boards each.
• Tucker also brought down a team-high four blocks.
• The Tigers are 10th in Division I with 46 rpg, 12th for FG percentage defense (.322), and 19th for scoring offense (79.9). They average 71.6 field goal attempts per game.
• Towson also leads the CAA in 11 categories including blocks per game (4.4) and scoring margin (21.1).
• Four Tigers average in double-figures with Nelson (17.8 ppg), Kubek (15.4 ppg), Rivera (11.9 ppg), and Tarriyonna Gary (10.2 ppg).
• Rivera and Ryann Evans are tied with a team-high 7.3 rpg.
• Towson head coach Diane Richardson spent a year on American's bench as an assistant coach during the 2006-07 season.

SERIES HISTORY vs. TOWSON

• American leads the 17-game series against the Tigers, 9-8, including a 5-2 record at home.
• The Eagles won in the series debut with a 79-61 finish in D.C. on Jan. 31, 1981.
• This is only the fifth meeting between the two teams since 2000, and the second since 2007.

THE LAST TIME WE MET...

• Seven players return from the Eagles' last meeting with the Tigers, including seniors Jade Edwards and Emily Fisher who both earned starts during the 63-60 loss in Maryland.
• The Tigers do not return any players from that 2019 with nine members of their current roster being transfers, and the rest only freshmen and sophomores.

THE LAST TIME OUT

• The Eagles had their best perimeter shooting game since the 2018-19 season on Tuesday, hitting 58.8 percent from long-range to outpace Virginia in Charlottesville, 69-56.
• Jade Edwards was among the highlights of the night after she posted her first double-double of the season, 11th of her career, with 11 rebounds and 10 assists. This was the first time in recorded program history that an Eagle posted a double-double without scoring 10+ points.
• Despite going a perfect 5-for-5 from the line down the stretch, she fell only one point shy of earning the program's first triple-double.
• Emily Fisher and Riley DeRubbo paced the team in scoring with 12 points each followed by 11 from Taylor Brown and Emily Johns, and 10 from Maddie Doring.
• DeRubbo led from the perimeter, hitting 4 of 6 (.667) to lead the team for the first time in her career.
• The Eagles trailed on the boards, 32-31, and continued to struggle with possession, giving up 21 miscues to 18 from Virginia.
• The Cavaliers led in points off turnovers, 25-9, points in the paint, 34-22, and second chance points, 14-3.
• American's bench came up huge once again with a combined 25 points.

THE STARTING FIVE

• Tuesday's win over Virginia was the first Power Five victory for the Eagles since the Patriot League Championship season in 2017-18 (Penn State), and the first time AU has defeated a Power Five on their home floor since 1998 (Georgia Tech).
• Senior Taylor Brown has continued to step up this season, averaging a career-high 6.1 rpg and tying her career-best with 10.3 ppg. She stepped up to lead the team in scoring during the 55-47 win over UMBC and has worked as the top rebounder in four outings so far this season.
• With her nine points and 11 rebounds on Tuesday, Edwards continues to close the gap on a pair of career milestones - she needs only 64 points and 21 boards to add her name to the 1,000-point and 500-rebound lists.
• The countdown continues for head coach Megan Gebbia as she goes into the weekend only eight wins away from becoming the winningest coach in program history. Saturday also marks the second time Gebbia has coached against her alma mater - the Eagles fell in a tight battle at Towson in 2019, 63-60. Gebbia had a successful career with the Tigers and still owns a spot in the program all-time top-10 for free throw percentage (3rd, .821). She graduated in 1994 with her degree in psychology.
• American continues to be deadly in Bender Arena this season after opening its home slate with a 3-0 run. The Eagles are 84-27 (.757) on their home floor in the Gebbia era, including a 54-11 run since the start of the 2016-17 season.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION

• Adult: $8
• Youth (17 and below): $5
• Senior (65+): $5
• Groups: All group tickets must be reserved in advance; not valid at box office on game day
  • 10-24: $3 each
  • 25+: $2
• Season tickets are still available! SAVE OVER 23% and guarantee yourself a seat to all 13 women's home games starting at just $50! 
• All other inquiries e-mail clawed@american.edu or call 202.885.TIXX

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).