Game 10  ·  American (6-3, 0-0 PL) at Longwood (3-7, 0-0 Big South)
Saturday, December 18  ·  3 p.m. ET  ·  Willett Hall (Farmville, Va.) 

WASHINGTON - The American University women's basketball team (6-3) will open a four-game road stretch on Saturday with a visit to Longwood for a 3 p.m. matinee. The game is the first of two quick trips for the Eagles who will close their nonconference slate at Howard at 1 p.m. on Tuesday (December 21).

SCOUTING THE LANCERS

• Longwood is coming off its fifth consecutive defeat of the season with an 83-70 loss to Richmond on Wednesday.
• Three players closed in double-figures against the Spiders, starting with an 18-point effort from Akila Smith. Anne-Hamilton Leroy added 14 off the bench along with a team-high four steals while Kyla McMakin scored 11 and brought down a team-high seven rebounds alongside Brooke Anya.
• Akila Smith also added a team-high four blocks.
• McMakin has led the overall scoring efforts for the Lancers so far this season, averaging 16.6 ppg.
• Akila Smith, the reigning Big South Defensive Player of the Year, follows close behind with 16.3 ppg along with a team-high 7.5 rpg and 31 blocks - good for eighth in Division I.
• Tra'dayja Smith is 13th in Division I for free throw percentage (.926) and 18th for assists (56) - she is third on the team with 10.2 ppg.

SERIES HISTORY vs. LONGWOOD

• American holds a 2-1 lead in the short history with Longwood, including a 97-53 victory in D.C. during the 1985-86 season to open the series.
• The two teams last met in Farmville in 2007 with AU also taking the win, this time 70-61.

THE LAST TIME OUT

• American dropped its first home game since the 2019-20 season on Saturday with a 79-61 loss to Towson.
• Three Eagles scored in double-figures starting with 17 points from Jade Edwards, who also led the team with nine boards and five assists.
• Maddie Doring added a career-high 15 points, followed by 11 from Taylor Brown, good for her sixth consecutive game in double-figures.
• For only the second time this season, AU trailed in field goal percentage - .429 to Towson's .449. The Eagles struggled against the Tigers' high-octane offense, which closed just below its average with 69 field goal attempts.
• American trailed Towson on the boards, 43-26, including a 19-5 gap in offensive rebounds, and the Eagles gave up 16 turnovers to the Tigers' 12.
• Towson capitalized in both categories, leading in second chance points, 21-6, and points off turnovers, 18-14 - a 19-point swing in an 18-point game.

THE STARTING FIVE

• American has received votes in the last two CollegeInsider Mid-Major polls after picking up its first Power Five win since 2017 at Virginia on Dec. 7 (69-56). The last time AU defeated a Power Five team was against Penn State (12/20), 75-66 (OT), to close out the nonconference before going on to win the program's second Patriot League Championship title.
• Taylor Brown has stepped up this season as the most consistent player on both ends of the floor for the Eagles - she has scored in double-figures in the last six games for a career-high 10.3 ppg, and leads the team with a career-high 5.9 rpg. Edwards continues to lead overall scoring with 13.9 ppg so far this season.
• With her 17 points and nine rebounds last weekend, Edwards continues to close the gap on a pair of career milestones - she needs only 47 points and 12 boards to add her name to the 1,000-point and 500-rebound lists.
• Getting out to a fast start is key for the Eagles - they are 5-1 when leading at the half and 1-2 when trailing. They came back from deficits to pick up the win on two occasions this season - AU trailed Vermont by 13 after the third quarter, despite leading at the half, and pushed the game into overtime before earning the 68-61 win. American also bounced back from a two-point deficit against UMBC to beat the Retrievers, 55-47.
• The countdown continues for head coach Megan Gebbia (143-100) as she goes into the weekend only eight wins away from breaking the career win record, currently held by Jeff Thatcher (150-156). Gebbia and her staff, with the exception of director of operations Nicole Krusen, have been together since her arrival in 2013.

HOLIDAY 3-PACK TICKET PLAN NOW AVAILABLE

• This holiday season treat yourself or give the gift of AU Hoops by purchasing AU Basketball's "Holiday 3-Pack" Ticket Mini-Plans! 
• Just $20 for women's, and $50 for men's basketball, you get a sideline ticket to any 3 women's or 3 men's games of your choice from any home games this December or January.
• Shopping for Eagle fans on your holiday list has never been easier. Purchase this money saving special limited time offer now through Dec. 24 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).