BALTIMORE, Md. –  A hot start and a dominant resurgence in the fourth quarter pushed the American University women's basketball team (3-10, 2-0 PL) to defeat Loyola Maryland (6-7, 1-1 PL) 52-37 in their first Patriot League road test. Led by Emily Johns with 14 points and five rebounds, the Eagles are now on a 2-0 run to open Patriot League play. It's the first time American has opened conference play with two wins in a row since the 2017-18 season. 
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Johns once again paced the Eagles in scoring, finishing with 14 points. She was fired up in the second half, scoring eight of her points, going 4-5 from the field, in back half of the game alone.
• Guards Riley DeRubbo and Sadie Stetson followed with nine and eight points respectively while grabbing two rebounds apiece. DeRubbo also had three steals.
• Junior guard Ivy Bales was the leader for American on the boards, taking control of the glass with eight rebounds. Bales, who had six steals in AU's previous game against Lafayette, totaled four steals against Loyola.
• For the Greyhounds both Koi Sims and Devyn Newman were the leaders with eight points each. Sims also grabbed 11 rebounds.  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Eagles opened the game on the run. DeRubbo was fouled as she drove to the basket and made both free throws to start the scoring. Then, Stetson and DeRubbo scored back-to-back threes to go on an 8-0 run in the first two-and-a-half minutes of play.
• Bales had two steals, three rebounds, a block, and an assist along with two points in the first frame of play. The Eagles carried a 14-9 lead into the second period.
• The second frame saw Loyola fight back, outscoring American 12-10 and shooting 46% while holding the Eagles to 38%.
• Stetson made sure AU kept their slight edge heading into the second half though, draining a two-point jumper with two second left to hold a 24-21 lead at the break.
• American forced eight Greyhound turnovers in the first quarter and then another six in the second for a total of fourteen while only giving up eight themselves in both periods combined. However, Loyola held the 19-13 rebound advantage in the first half.
• The Greyhounds went on a 7-3 run in the third to take the lead for the first time in the game, 28-27, with 3:30 left to play in the period.
• Another Stetson three-pointer put the Eagles back in the lead before Johns got a field goal and American carried a 32-28 lead into the final frame.
• Johns had a hot fourth quarter, going 4-5 from the field to score eight points of her points in back half of the game alone and putting the final bow on the game with the final basket of the game to push the final tally to 52-37.
• The Eagles outscored the Greyhounds 20-9 in the fourth period while shooting 73% from the field and holding Loyola to just 29%. 

UP NEXT
The squad will be back in Bender to take on Holy Cross on Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. After that, the Eagles will be shipping themselves up to Boston to take on Boston University on Sunday, Jan. 8 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now 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).