WASHINGTON – Wednesday's contest was a battle to the very end between the American University women's basketball team and Lafayette College. Despite the dominant first quarter and a strong second quarter, the Eagles struggled to hit their stride in the second half and the Leopards took the win, 60-55.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE  

• Senior Ivy Bales led the team offensively in points with 13 and got the Eagles into their groove by getting the scoring started in both the second and third quarters. The guard went 5-for-7 from the floor and defensively grabbed eight rebounds and two steals.
• Two Eagles hit the double-double mark on Wednesday night. Anna LeMaster snatched her first career double-double when she pulled down 10 rebounds and added 12 points to the offensive campaign while Lauren Stack matched her in both stats, with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The two led AU on the boards.
• Bales, LeMaster, and Stack each finished two steals apiece and forward Emily Johns was the fourth Eagle in double-digit scoring position with 10.
• Lafayette was led by Kayla Drummond and Makayla Andrews, each with 12 points. On the glass, Emma Shields led with six. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Stack ignited the scoring with a well-executed layup, leading the first quarter in points with an impressive performance and Kayla Henning contributed to the scoring momentum with a clutch jumper, extending the team's lead to seven, up 14-7 with under three to play in the opening frame.
• The team displayed accuracy from the free-throw line, going 5-for-6 from the charity stripe, taking advantage of their opponent's sloppy start.
• The Leopards struck first in the second quarter, at the 8:31 mark, setting the tone for an exciting quarter. The Eagles, however, faced early challenges as turnovers plagued their performance, allowing the Leopards to tie it up at 15-all with two Lafayette points coming off turnovers.
• As the game unfolded, Lafayette took the lead at 7:50, but Bales would make a crucial jumper to tie the score once again at 17-all. Despite Lafayette's offensive push, the Eagles' defense struggled to connect, resulting in a series of unsuccessful attempts to keep the Leopards from finding the net.
• With Lafayette leading 21-17 and six minutes left in the half, forward Johns stepped up with a layup to slash the lead to 21-19 with 4:33 remaining, the game had reached a pivotal moment.
• Coming out of the locker room, Bales kick-started the scoring with a three-pointer, narrowing the lead to just 1 point at 28-29. The game opened with a flurry of action as Stack showcased her prowess on the boards, securing two rebounds within the opening two minutes, both coming on the defensive end.
• Lafayette though was able to capitalize on drawn penalties, reclaiming the lead, 32-28 and pushing it to 35-28. The Eagles fought back, with Bales sinking a two-pointer to bring the team back within five, marking her ninth point of the night with 5:41 left in the third quarter.
• In a determined effort to stage a comeback, the Eagles faced a 45-38 deficit heading into the final quarter. The stage was set for an exhilarating final period as the team sought to bridge the gap in the closing minutes.
• The Eagles mounted an exciting rally down just one point when they brought the score to a nail-biting 55-56 with less than a minute remaining. LeMaster drained an important three and Bales, who was fouled as the net swished, sank both free throws. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as the Eagles inched closer to completing the comeback in Bender.
• It wouldn't come to pass though, when, despite the valiant effort and a thrilling last-minute push, the Eagles fell just short of turning the tide. The buzzer sounded with the score reading 60-55, signaling a hard-fought contest, but a loss for the Eagles.
• American is now 6-3 in league play. 

UP NEXT  
The Eagles will travel to Bucknell in Lewisburg, Pa. for their next game on Sunday, Feb. 4 at 2 pm. American will then have a bye-week, and that following weekend, will welcome Holy Cross for Senior Day and a Black History Month Celebration on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 3:00 pm in Bender Arena.   Tickets are on sale now at AUEagles.com/Tickets!
 
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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).