Game 22  ·  American (14-7, 7-4 PL) vs. Boston University (14-9, 10-2 PL)
Saturday, February 12  ·  2 p.m. ET  ·  Bender Arena (Washington, D.C.)
Talent: Dan Laing (pxp) and Jody Patrick (analyst)

WASHINGTON - Redemption week continues for the American University women's basketball team on Saturday as the Eagles host Boston University at 2 p.m. in Bender Arena. The game comes on the heels of a record-breaking night on Wednesday as head coach Megan Gebbia made history as the winningest coach in program history with her 151st victory. AU toppled Bucknell, 56-48, after falling to the Bison on the road earlier in the season.

UPDATED COVID PROTOCOLS FOR BENDER ARENA

• In response to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in our region, American University Athletics is announcing increased safety measures for events at Bender Arena
• Eagles Club Hospitality Suite: Due to health and safety protocols related to COVID-19, there will be a temporary pause on all Eagles Club Hospitality operations for men's and women's basketball games.
• All patrons are required to wear masks at all times while inside Bender Arena, and proof of vaccination required prior to entering the gym.

THE GOAT

• Head coach Megan Gebbia made history once again on Wednesday with her 151st career victory, surpassing Jeff Thatcher (1989-00) as the winningest coach in program history.
• In her nine years at the helm, Gebbia has guided the program to its only two Patriot League titles and NCAA Tournament berths, along with a pair of WNIT appearances.  The two-time PL Coach of the Year has led the team to two of its winninest seasons in program history and mentored four CoSIDA Academic All-District selections, five Patriot League Scholar-Athletes of the Year, four Patriot League Players of the Year, and 22 All-Patriot League selections.
• Gebbia and her staff - associate head coach Tiffany Coll, and assistant coaches Nikki Flores and Emily Stallings - have been together since Gebbia arrived at AU in 2013-14. They are the only all-female staff in the Patriot League and the most consistent with the only change being Director of Operations Nicole Krusen, who is in her sixth season.
• Among the highlights for Saturday will be a pregame ceremony honoring this incredible achievement by Gebbia and her staff.

ANTI-RACISM

• Patriot League student-athletes, coaches and staff will show their commitment to the pursuit of Anti-Racism during contests held on consecutive weekends beginning on Saturday, Feb. 5.
• During the two weekends, more than 1,600 student-athletes, coaches and staff from nearly 50 PL programs will wear special warm-up shirts adorned with a Black fist surrounded by 10 stars to represent each of the League's member institutions and the phrase "Pursuing Anti-Racism." The back of the shirt will feature the words "Unity, Respect, Activism" to signify the values under which the League will continue to pursue the goal of Anti-Racism.
• The League's first Anti-Racism weekend was in February 2021 with the League's men's and women's basketball programs and continued to include all teams competing during the spring in April of 2021. The League's commemoration of this goal continues to be advocated by the Patriot League's Student-Athletes of Color (SAOC) Leadership Council, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and the League's Anti-Racism Commission.

THE STARTING FIVE

• American continues to be one of the most dangerous teams in the country on its home floor, now sitting at 9-1 this season in Bender Arena, including a perfect 6-0 in the Patriot League. Since 2013-14, AU is 9-28 (.763) in D.C., including a 60-12 run since the start of the 2016-17 season.
• Of the nine players who put in minutes on Wednesday, eight scored at least three points with senior Taylor Brown leading the way (10), followed by nine points each from junior Lauren Stack and sophomore Ivy Bales.
• Senior Emily Fisher had the grittiest performance of the night, though, stuffing the stat sheet with eight points, five assists, two boards, a steal, and a monster block late in the fourth quarter. Senior Jade Edwards also added eight points and lead the team with nine rebounds and three steals
• The win kicked off a redemption week for the Eagles, as they looked to bounce back after a disappointing loss to Colgate on Saturday. AU fell on the road to Bucknell, 62-52, and Boston University, 69-46, last month.
• With Wednesday's win, American continues to establish itself as one of the most dangerous teams in the country on its home floor. The Eagles lead the Patriot League with a .900 win percentage in Bender Arena and are tied for 39th so far this season.

SCOUTING THE TERRIERS

• Boston bounced back after a 68-65 loss to Lehgh on February 5 to pull off the second half victory against Army West Point on Wednesday, 69-56.
• BU trailed by as many as 10 in the first half before posting a dominant 19-9 third quarter run to tke the lead for the first time during the game.
• BU couldn't miss in the fourth quarter, literally. The Terriers went 10-for-10 from the floor, 2-for-2 from three, and 2-for-2 from the line in the final 10 minutes to secure the victory.
• Liz Shean paced BU with 18 points off the bench followed by Sydney Johnson and Caitlin Weimer with 16 points each. Weimer also added 14 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the year.
• Alex Giannaros added a dozen points alongside two blocks and two steals.
• BU is the top three-point threat in the Patriot League, shooting 34.7 percent from long range. The Terriers also rank second with 4.2 blocks per game behind Maren Durant and Weimer, who rank fourth (1.7) and fifth (1.5), respectively.
• Durant also ranks fifth in the league with 8.8 rpg.
• Johnson is second in the league in scoring (16.3 ppg) and third for field goal percentage (.439).

SERIES HISTORY vs. BOSTON UNIVERSITY

• Although Boston University comes into the game on a three-game win streak against AU, the Eagles still lead the series, 14-8, including a 10-1 record in Bender Arena.
• Of the last three losses, two came during the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinals in 2020 and 2021. AU also dropped a 69-46 showing in Boston last month.
• Head coach Megan Gebbia is 13-6 against BU since joining the Eagles in 2013-14.

THE LAST TIME WE MET...

• AU did not have an answer to Boston's size on Jan. 8 in Boston and fell to the Terriers, 69-46.
• Taylor Brown posted her ninth consecutive double-figure performance, leading the team with 15 points and six rebounds. Jade Edwards was next with 10 points, falling only four points shy of her 1,000th.
• Sophomore Ivy Bales also brought down a team-high six boards for a new season-high.
• American had its lowest shooting percentage of the season, hitting only 19 of 70 (.271), including 3-for-20 from long range (.150) and 5-for-9 (.556) from the line.
• The Terriers, on the other hand, shot 46.4 percent (26-56) from the floor and 31.6 percent (6-19) from three.
• AU gave up only 10 turnovers and had a season-high 16 offensive rebounds, but struggled overall on the boards with 33 total rebounds to BU's 49.

#AUWBB vs. THE PATRIOT LEAGUE

• American holds a 207-107 (.659) record in Patriot League play, and an overall record of 264-139 (.655) against Patriot League opponents.
• Included in that are winning records against each team in the conference with the exception of Holy Cross, who has a five-game advantage over the Eagles.
• Head Coach Megan Gebbia has a 99-47 (.678) record in conference play since arriving at AU in 2013-14, and is 13-6 in the Patriot League Tournament, including the program's only two PL titles in 2015 and and 2018.

SHOOT YOUR SHOT

• The Eagles are averaging only 52.7 FGA per game, but they know how to make them count with a 41.9 FG%, to rank third in the Patriot League.
• The Eagles sat atop the league rankings for much of the season but have dropped in and out after being held to only a .397 FG% since the start of league play.
• Only seven teams have shot better than AU so far this season - UMBC (.373/.432), Towson (.429/.449), Boston University (.271/.464), Bucknell (.340/.467), Holy Cross (.267/.415), Lafayette (.357/.408), and Colgate (.410/.527).
• The Eagles have put in four games shooting 50 percent or higher so far this season - Army (.549), Colgate (.518), George Mason (.511), and Radford (.500).
• American's .447 field goal percentage in the non-conference was the team's highest since Gebbia took the reins in 2013.
• Jade Edwards leads the team shooting 46.2 percent (91-197), which would put her in second in the PL if she averaged 5 FGM/game (currently at 4.3).

IT'S ALL ABOUT CONTROL...

• AU has struggled with turnovers in the early part of the season, averaging 19.3 through the nonconference.
• They've cleaned up the miscues since the start of league play, though, averaging 14.3 in the last 11 outings.
• The Eagles have also made their opponents pay for their mistakes, though, forcing a league-high 18.9 turnovers in conference play.
• American leads the league with 8.9 steals per game, including 9.2 per game against PL opponents.

PICKIN' POCKETS

• Jade Edwards and Taylor Brown continue to rank among the top in the league for steals, averaging 2.1 and 1.9 per game to rank second and fourth, respectively.
• Brown picked up a career-high four against Marist (11/12) and Colgate (1/5) while Edwards tied hers with five during the win against Longwood (12/18).
• Lauren Stack briefly added her name to the top-10 in the PL after picking up a career-high five steals against Bucknell. She is third for the Eagles with 1.3/game.

CLOSE 'EM OUT

• American ranks among some of the top perimeter defenses in Division I, holding opponents to only 25.6 percent from long range, including 24.5 percent in league play after holding Bucknell to only 16.7 percent (3-18).
• The Eagles are back atop the league rankings and sit in 17th in Division I.

BENDER ARENA GREGORIO'S CONCESSIONS STAND RE-OPENS FOR REMAINDER OF 2022 HOME GAMES

• Starting on Wednesday, Feburary 9, AU Athletics is proud to announce that concessions operations will re-open to Bender Arena patrons  The Eagles have partnered with Gregorio's Trattoria to provide an enhanced concessions menu for all remaining home basketball games this season. Fans can enjoy Gregorio's favorites including menu selections of pizza, Italian sausage and peppers, hot and cold sub sandwiches and wraps, chicken fingers, hot dogs, chips and more, as well as a full selection of refreshing Pepsi products.

NEXT UP
American will be on the road next week with visits to Navy on Wednesday and Army West Point on Saturday.

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).