PL SEMIFINAL  ·  #2 American (21-8, 13-5 PL) vs. #3 Boston University (17-13, 12-6 PL)
Thursday, March 10  ·  6 p.m. ET  ·  Bender Arena (Washington, D.C.)
Broadcast Talent: Dan Laing (pxp); Jody Patrick (analyst)

WASHINGTON - The American University women's basketball team (21-8, 13-5 PL) will look to advance into its eighth Patriot League Championship game on Thursday as the second-seeded Eagles host three-seed Boston University at 6 p.m. in Bender Arena.

There is no shortage of hype going into the game, as the AU will look for some redemption against the Terriers after getting knocked out of the PL Tournament by BU in Boston in 2020 and 2021. In both games, it was Boston that came in as the two-seed while the Eagles were seventh and third, respectively. The two teams split the 2021-22 regular-season series with Boston defeating American in Case Gym, 69-46, on January 8, before the Eagles defended their home court with a 70-57 win on February 12.

SPECTATOR POLICY

• All spectators 12 years of age and older will need to provide proof of vaccination to enter the venue. Fans under the age of 12 are exempt from providing proof of vaccination. Additionally, unless actively eating or drinking all spectators are required to wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status.

TOURNAMENT NEWS

• American advanced into the semifinal with a 54-48 win over seven-seed Lafayette on Monday in Bender Arena.
• The Terriers, on the other hand, advanced with a 80-74 win over six-seed Army West Point.
• On the other side of the bracket, eight-seed Navy claimed the biggest upset of the tournament so far with a 50-49 win over one-seed Holy Cross on Monday. The Mids will face four-seed Bucknell on Thursday, also at 6 p.m.
• The winners of the two games will meet in the Championship game at noon on Sunday, March 13. 

#AUWBB IN THE PATRIOT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT

• Overall Record: 25-18 (14-6 under head coach Megan Gebbia)
• In Bender Arena: 16-2 (Gebbia: 14-0)
• Against Boston University: 2-2 overall (0-1 in the semifinal; 2-0 in Bender Arena)
• In the Semifinal: 7-6 (Gebbia: 3-3)
• American is also 8-5 as the two-seed, including three appearances in the Championship game.
• Head coach Megan Gebbia led the Eagles to their only two PL titles during the 2015 and 2018 seasons, both were as the No. 1 seed.

THE STARTING FIVE

• American advanced to its 14th Patriot League semifinal since 2002 on Monday with a 54-48 win over Lafayette. The victory was the second consecutive for the Eagles over Lafayette after they outpaced the Leopards in the regular-season finale, 62-48.
• In both games, sophomore Emily Johns stepped up to lead AU. First with a new career-high 19 points on Wednesday, then with 14 on Monday. Seniors Emily Fisher and Jade Edwards also closed in double-figures in the quarterfinal win with 10 points each. Edwards also led with nine rebounds, six assists, and two blocks.
• Thursday's showdown with Boston University will certainly not be without its storylines. The Eagles got knocked out of the last two Patriot League Tournaments by the Terriers - in the 2020 quarterfinal, then the 2021 semifinal. Both games, though, were hosted by BU in Case Gym.
• Home court advantage just hits different with AU. The Eagles are 14-0 in Bender Arena during the PL Tournament under head coach Megan Gebbia. They were also undefeated at home during the PL regular season this year and the lone nonconference loss to Towson is the only one in the last 21 games at home dating back to 2019-20. AU is tied for 11th in DI with its current 11-0 home win streak.
• American boasts one of the top defenses in the country. The Eagles rank fifth in Division I for 3-point defense, holding opponents to only 24.5 percent shooting from long range, including 23.6 percent in League play. They also lead the Patriot League in forced turnovers (18.2) and steals per game (8.5).

SCOUTING THE TERRIERS

• Boston survived a 30-17 second quarter from Army West Point during Monday's quarterfinal to advance into the semifinal round with an 80-74 win over the Black Knights.
• Caitlin Weimer led the Terriers with a career-high 21 points, followed by 15 from Liz Shean who went 5-for-11 from long range. Sydney Johnson and Riley Childs added 10 each.
• Weimer also picked up 13 rebounds for the double-double.
• BU led by as many as 14 in the first quarter before Army let loose in the second, pulling back within one behind a 30-17 run.
• The Terriers regained control in the second half, though, with a 39-34 run through the final 20 minutes.
• Boston sits just ahead of AU shooting 42.5 percent from the floor to lead the Patriot League.
• The Terriers also lead from the perimeter, shooting 34.2 percent.
• Johnson leads BU's scoring effort with 15.8 ppg, followed by Weimer (10.4) and Alex Giannaros (10.2).
• Weimer also ranks second on the boards (8.8 rpg) and in blocks (37) behind Maren Dupont's 9.0 rpg and 51 blocks.

SERIES HISTORY vs. BOSTON UNIVERSITY

• AU broke BU's three-game win streak on Feb. 12 with a 70-57 win in Bender Arena.
• American continues to lead the series, 14-8, including a 11-1 record in Bender Arena.
• The Eagles are 2-2 against Boston in the PL Tournament, including an 0-1 record in the semifinal game.
• Head coach Megan Gebbia is 14-6 against BU since joining the Eagles in 2013-14.

THE LAST TIME WE MET...

• American picked up a massive win on Feb. 12, overcoming Boston University in Bender Arena, 70-57, behind a dominant 40-24 first half.
• Three Eagles closed in double-figures with senior Jade Edwards leading the way with 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
• Junior Karla Vres had her best performance of the season, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor and 2-for-2 from three for a dozen points alongside senior Emily Fisher, who also added four assists.
• The Eagles held BU's Sydney Johnson, who entered the game averaging 16.3 ppg, to only nine on the day.
• Edwards was the offensive spark for the Eagles in the first half with 11 of her 17 points, but it was Fisher who turned it on the second half to hold off the Terriers' with 10 of her 12 points.

#AUWBB vs. THE PATRIOT LEAGUE

• American holds a 213-108 (.664) record in Patriot League play, and an overall record of 271-140 (.659) 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 105-48 (.686) record in conference play since arriving at AU in 2013-14, and is 14-6 in the Patriot League Tournament, including the program's only two PL titles in 2015 and and 2018.

LAST TIME OUT

• American trailed by as many as four in the first half but surged to the six-point win behind a 29-22 second half run.
• Emily Johns, who earned career-highs in both regular-season meetings against the Leopards, led the Eagles for the second consecutive game with 14 points followed by 10 each from Emily Fisher and Jade Edwards.
• Edwards also brought down a team-high nine boards and added six assists and two blocks. Taylor Brown pitched in another five assists for a career-high.
• American held Lafayette to only 1 of 10 from three-point range while the Eagles hit 6 of 18, including three from Maddie Doring to tie her career-high.

POSTSEASON AWARDS

• Seniors Jade Edwards, Emily Fisher, and Taylor Brown closed the regular-season with selections to the All-Patriot League Teams.
• Edwards led the trio with her second consecutive First Team nod, and fifth career All-PL award after being voted to the Second Team as a sophomore and the All-Rookie Team as a freshman. She was also voted onto the All-Defensive Team last season.
• This was the first postseason nod for both Fisher and Brown. The two Eagles were selected to the Third Team while Fisher also earned a spot on the league's All-Defensive Team.
• All three are set to return for a fifth-year in 2021-22 along with classmate Maddie Doring.

PROTECT THIS HOUSE

• American is 65-12 at home since the start of the 2016-17, including an undefeated 23-0 run that ranked sixth in Division I before ending with a loss to Ohio on Dec. 29, 2018.
• Within that run was the program's first undefeated season at home since the 1970s en route to the program's second PL title in 2017-18.
• Under head coach Megan Gebbia, the Eagles are 95-28 (.772) in Bender Arena, including 74-16 (.822) against Patriot League opponents.
• American was undefeated at home once again last season at 4-0 during the shortened conference-only slate.
• The Eagles have also been dominant at home in postseason play, with an overall record of 16-2 during the PL Tournament since 2011. Included in that record is a 14-0 record from Gebbia.

TICKET INFORMATION

• Tickets for the Patriot League Tournament semifinal game are on sale now. They can be purchased any time online at AUEagles.com/Tickets.
• Prices are - $12 (adults), $6 (seniors & youth).
• AU students will be admitted for free with a current and valid AU graduate, undergraduate, or WCL student ID.

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).