WEST POINT, N.Y. – It was a grind in the final frame, but it was a strong win despite foul trouble for the American University women's basketball team when the Eagles traveled north to take on Army West Point on Sunday afternoon. Four Eagles scored in double digits to lead the squad to a 75-69 win over the Black Knights. The Eagles are now a perfect 4-0 in the Patriot League.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Ivy Bales was, once again, everywhere on the hardwood on Sunday afternoon. She had a team leading 14 points to go with her four rebounds, a steal, and two assists.
• It wasn't just Bales that was everywhere. Bailey Garbee had a stuffed line on the stat sheet as well. The junior guard was all over both sides of the court with 12 points and four assists offensively, plus three steals, a block, and she led the team in rebounds with five.
• Molly Lavin was the fourth Eagle in double digits with 10 points. The sophomore also had five rebounds to match with Garbee and contributed three assists.
• Two forwards, Emily Johns and Lauren Stack, picked up their third fouls in the first half and were limited as a result. Johns still managed 13 points while Stack had three rebounds and two steals but couldn't lock in offensively, finishing with seven points.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• American took control early. Bales was the driver of the efforts going 2-2 from the floor and 1-2 from the charity stripe for five early points with half of the first quarter still to be played; the Eagles were up 12-6 when the first media timeout hit.
• Lavin hit her offensive stride, adding five more points to the Eagles campaign to help them finish the first quarter up 20-13. American led in rebounds, ahead 8-5, and field goals, shooting 62% in the first frame.
• The second quarter saw the Black Knights pick up the intensity; Kya Smith led both teams offensively with nine points while AU's Stack picked up her third foul with five minutes to go still in the first half. It was a three point game, American still in the lead, 26-23, at the quarter's midway point.
• It became a game of foul trouble early when another Eagles' post, Johns, picked up her third foul with under four to go in the first half. On the opposite end, both Smith and Reese Ericson had three fouls each for the Black Knights.
• When the break came, it was a relief for the Eagles, who despite being ahead, were struggling to keep up the defensive pressure despite still pushing offensively. Anna LeMaster converted on a layup and free throw when she got fouled and American carried a seven point, 40-33 lead into halftime.
• The Black Knights and the Eagles each scored an even 20 points in the second period, but American's advantage was carried over from the first period when they held Army to 13 points.
• AU worked to extend the lead in the third. Outscoring the Black Knights 12-7 in the first five minutes of the frame, up 52-40, thanks to a combined ten points from Johns and Bales with an additional two from Garbee.
• Garbee closed out the third for the Eagles with a big steal, her third of the night, and a solo layup on the other end of the court. Army responded, but the Eagles held a firm 60-45 lead with ten minutes to go.
• The final frame was a grind. The Black Knights outscored the Eagles 24-15, including going 10-10 from the free throw line, but the 15-point lead that AU pushed for that ended the third period gave them enough cushion.
• Kayla Henning sunk her two free throws with 24 seconds left to give an extra cushion. The Eagles capped the win at 75-69 thanks to a free throw from Stack that sealed the deal.

UP NEXT
The Eagles are home next week to face Loyola Maryland on Wednesday Jan. 17 and try and sweep the series against Lehigh on Saturday, Jan. 20 when the two teams face off for the second time already this season.

Tickets are on sale now at AUEagles.com/Tickets!

KEEP UP WITH US
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