CHICAGO – The American women's basketball team traveled to the Windy City to play a hometown game for senior forward Lauren Stack and junior guard Kayla Henning to start its 2022-23 season. Facing DePaul University out of the powerhouse Big East Conference, the Eagles fell 96-45 to the Blue Demons. Freshman forward Molly Lavin led the Eagles in scoring with 15 points.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Lavin shot 3-4 from the field in the first half. The Londoner had six points and trailed only junior and fellow forward Emily Johns who had seven In the first 20 minutes of play.
• Junior guard Riley DeRubbo, Lavin, and Johns each had one of the Eagles three three-pointers. DeRubbo also led American with five rebounds.
• The Blue Demons were led offensively by a 24-point performance from Aneesah Morrow, an AP Preseason All-American. Darrione Rogers followed that up with 18 and Anaya Peoples with 14.
• Lavin ended the game with 15 points and 4 rebounds. She also went 2-2 from the free throw line. Lavin was the only Eagle that scored in the double digits.
• Combined, Johns and Lavin had 24 points for the Eagles and shot 4-9 and 6-8 from the field respectively in the game. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• DePaul jumped out to an early lead and held it through the first. The Blue Demons opened the game 0-4 before the Eagles came back, cutting the deficit to just four with the score 6-10 midway through the first quarter.
• After that though, the Blue Demons took control of the remainder of the period, outscoring American 14-2 to lead the Eagles 24-8 heading into the second period.
• At the end of the first period and start of the second American pushed back, scoring seven in a row, but it wasn't enough to cut through the impact made by the Blue Demons offense and DePaul led 49-24 at the end of the first half.
• The Blue Demons were consistent in the first half, shooting 56% in both the first and the second quarter. American improved, shooting 36% in the first period and then 56% in the second.
• To start the second half, DePaul came out hot, outscoring the Eagles 25-10 in the third period despite the Eagles' defense holding the Blue Demons to just 38% in the quarter.
• In the fourth it was DePaul holding the Eagles to just 27% from the field and outscored them 22-11. Henning and Lavin both went 2-3 from the field, collectively scoring all 11 points for the Eagles in the period. DePaul ended the game with two free throws to seal the victory in their home opener. 

UP NEXT
The Eagles have their home opener next week to host George Washington on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. and then are hosting Virginia in Bender Arena on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m.

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