WASHINGTON – A dominant 13-2 run to open the third quarter propelled American University women's basketball to a 58-47 victory against the visiting Bucknell Bison. The Eagles are perfect through two games of Patriot League play this season.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Senior Ivy Bales seemingly did everything for the Eagles on both sides of the ball. The guard led the team six steals while also recording 12 points, four assists, and seven rebounds.
• Bales' six steals were the most for any Eagle in a game this season. She also tied her career high from last season.
• Sophomore Molly Lavin also set her career high and a season high for the team with 12 rebounds.
• Graduate student Lauren Stack led American with 13 points on 6-8 shooting with junior Bailey Garbee also contributing 11 points of her own.
• Sophomore point guard Laura Nogues led the Eagles with five assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• American gave up an early 7-0 run to start the game before senior Emily Johns recorded the Eagles' first points of the contest with 8:28 remaining in the first quarter to make the score 7-2.
• The Bison led the Eagles 12-6 after the first frame in a tight defensive affair.
• Nogues helped spark the offense through stellar defense early in the second when she picked the pocket of the Bucknell point guard to set herself up for an easy layup on the other end.
• The Eagles again turned defense into offense when, with time winding down in the half, Lavin recorded a block that led to American getting the final possession of the half that ended. Lavin then drew a foul and knocked down both free-throws to put the team within three at the half, trailing 22-19.
• The late first half momentum followed the Eagles after the break when Nogues set up Garbee with an inside pass in the first possession of the half.
• Garbee subsequently hit a layup and a three-pointer in the 13-2 run that ensued for American that gave it its first lead of the game, with the Eagles holding an eight point 32-24 lead halfway through the quarter.
• American continued to dominate offensively, scoring 21 points while holding Bucknell to only seven in the third frame, taking an 11 point 41-29 lead into the final frame.
• The teams went back and forth through the first five minutes of the fourth quarter. American led by as many as 14 and maintained a 10 point 51-41 lead at the media timeout with 4:41 left in the game.
• A 6-0 Bucknell run trimmed American's lead to eight with 31 seconds to play, but the Eagles held strong to prevail by a score of 58-47.

UP NEXT
American will stay at home to face the Boston University Terriers on Wednesday, January 10 at 11:30 a.m. in Bender Arena.
 
Tickets are on sale now at AUEagles.com/Tickets!
 
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