WASHINGTON – The American University women's basketball team (0-5) is on the hunt for its first win of the season and are hoping to pick it up against Howard (1-5) in Bender Arena on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Eagles just returned from the Bahamas where they participated in the Goombay Splash having taken on both No. 7 Notre Dame and Arizona State. Howard will be looking to stop its losing streak on Wednesday as well.

QUICK INFO

• Date/Time: Wednesday, Nov. 30; 7:00 PM
• Site: Washington, D.C. (Bender Arena)
• Series History: AU leads Howard, 2-1
• TV: ESPN+
• Talent: Dan Laing (pxp) and Jody Patrick (color)

INSIDE THE SERIES

• This will be the 4th meeting between the two programs. The series dates to just 2005. Twice the contests have been played across town at Howard and once here in Bender.
• While Howard won the first meeting, American has won the subsequent two. The most recent matchup on Nov. 13, 2009 was a 71-59 victory for the Eagles.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT AMERICAN

• American enters Wednesday's game still in search of its first win of the season.
• Forward Emily Johns is the leading point scorer so far this season for the Eagles. The junior is averaging 14.0 ppg and was the second-highest point getter in the first three games before topping the team with 15 against No.7 Notre Dame and tied with Lauren Stack with 18 points apiece against Arizona State. She's also the leading rebounder with 6.0 rpg.
• At the Goombay Splash Tournament, Johns was named to the All-Tournament team.
• Against ASU, junior guard Riley DeRubbo, had multiple career highs. In the game she went 5-11, including two from beyond the arc to score a career high 14 points. She also went 2-2 from the line and had five rebounds and four assists in the matchup. She also played extended game-time being on the court for 32 minutes.
• An Eagle to watch off the bench is freshman Molly Lavin. The Londoner has shot 14-27 from the field, averaging 7.8 ppg in her first five collegiate games while also going 5-9 from beyond the arc. She has also gone 6-8 from the free throw line and has 3.0 rpg.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HOWARD

• After opening the season with a 62-57 win against LaSalle, Howard went 0-5 in their next run of games and are sitting on a 1-5 record coming into Bender.
• The Bison are returning from the FIU Thanksgiving Classic where they went up against hosts FIU on Friday and then against Drake on Sunday, dropping those games 65-76 and 60-97 respectively.
• Head coach since the 2015-16 season, Tiesha "Ty" Grace had turned the program into one of the MEAC's elite programs, winning the 2021-22 conference tournament title and securing a berth in the NCAA Tournament, where they earned their first NCAA Tournament victory. Grace was also named the '21-22 MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Coach.
• The Bison are led in scoring so far this season by senior guard, Iyanna Warren who is averaging 11.6 ppg and 3.2 rpg. Warren also has 11 steals and 14 assists.
• Brooklynn Fort-Davis is the leading the Bison on the glass with 30 total rebounds (5.0 rpg). The senior also has five blocks, six steals and six assists for the season. She's averaging 8.2 ppg.

TICKETS – "HOLIDAY 3-PACK" MINI-PLANS – ON SALE NOW

• This holiday season treat yourself or give the gift of AU Hoops by purchasing AU Basketball Holiday 3-Pack Ticket Mini-Plans! For just $48 the men's team, and just $18 for the women's team, you'll get a sideline ticket to any 3 remaining home men's or women's games of your choice.  Shopping for AU alumni and Eagle fans on your holiday list has never been easier. 
• Purchase now through Dec. 30 at AUeagles.com/Tickets!

KEEP UP WITH US

• 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).