WASHINGTON - The American University women's basketball team celebrated the careers of Indeya Sanders and TaeKenya Cleveland with a late win over Loyola Maryland on Saturday, toppling the Greyhounds, 51-50, for a fourth consecutive victory. The Eagles are now 4-3 on the season and 4-1 in the Patriot League South Division.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Taylor Brown stepped up with a career-high 13 points, including the two winning free throws in the game's final second. Jade Edwards, who entered the weekend leading the league with 20.0 ppg, was held to only 13 by the Greyhounds. Emily Fisher also closed in double-figures, tying her season-high with 10 points during her first game back since January 16.
• Edwards also led the team on the glass with five rebounds.
• Taleah Dixon paced Loyola with a 14-point performance, followed by a dozen from Emily McAteer, who also brought down a game-high nine rebounds.
• The Eagles continue to lead opponents in field goal percentage, shooting just off their average with 43.9 percent (18-41) while Loyola was held to 37.0 percent (17-46) from the floor. AU also closed with a season-high 50 percent shooting from long range (6-12), but was held to only 9 of 15 from the line (.600).
• Both teams gave up 19 miscues, but American proved to be more efficient with the extra possessions, leading Loyola 22-15 in points off turnovers.
• For the first time since the opening series against Lehigh, the Eagles were outscored in the paint, 24-22. Loyola also led on the boards, 31-25, and picked up 13 steals to AU's nine.
• First Quarter ... The Greyhounds erased an early four-point AU advantage, hitting a 9-2 run throughout the last half of the stanza to take a six-point lead. A last-second layup by Brown after an offensive rebound from freshman Kayla Henning closed the quarter with Loyola ahead by four, 16-12.
• Second Quarter ... American found its rhythm in the second quarter, drawing even with Loyola twice before the media timeout. Coming out of the huddle, the Eagles shut down the Loyola offense, holding them to only five attempts in the final four minutes and hitting eight unanswered to head into halftime back in the lead, 28-20.
• Third Quarter ... AU's run continued in the second half, as baskets from Sanders and sophomore Karla Vres pulled the Eagles ahead by as much as 11 before the Greyhounds found their footing. Loyola steadily chipped away at the double-figure lead throughout the quarter, landing back within one before a layup from Sanders and a pair of free throws from Brown rebuilt a 36-32 lead. The Greyhounds had the last say, though, as Dixon and Laryn Edwards scored a late five points to overtake the Eagles heading into the final 10 minutes, 37-36.
• Fourth Quarter ... American was quick to respond, though, as an early three from Brown put the Eagles back ahead. AU steadily built on its lead, gaining a seven-point edge with 5:41 left after Brown capitalized off a Loyola miscue. But fouls haunted the Eagles coming out the media timeout, as Loyola went 6-for-8 from the line in the final 4:31 to retake a 50-49 lead with 32 seconds remaining. An AU turnover with 28 seconds left seemed to put the nail in the proverbial coffin, but Loyola was called for a travel eight seconds later, giving the Eagles one last possession. With five seconds left in the game, Brown was fouled under the basket and put away both free throws to give the Eagles a one-point edge. Loyola put up one last field goal attempt, but it was off the mark, closing the game at 51-50.

UP NEXT...

• The Eagles will be back in action on Sunday to complete the season's final series against Loyola. AU will tip off against the Greyhounds in Baltimore at noon. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports.
• American will return home on Wednesday, Feb. 24, for a 6 p.m. showing against Navy.

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).