BALTIMORE, Md. – It was a difficult afternoon from the outset for the American University women's basketball team in Reitz Arena when they took on the Greyhounds of Loyola Maryland, falling 77-38.

Inside the Box Score

• Cecilia Kay grinded to her second double-double in a row, the freshman proving why she was named the PL Rookie of the Week earlier in the day. She finished the contest with 11 points and 12 rebounds. She also battled around the rim to tally three blocks.
• Madisyn Moore-Nicholson set a new career high of nine points. The freshman guard went 5-for-8 from the free throw line and had two rebounds and an assist.
• Laura Salmeron paced all players on the floor with her 19 points, a majority of which came from her 5-for-6 shooting beyond the arc. Koi Sims on the glass proved why she leads the league in rebounding, she led all players on the court with 14 to pair with her 14 points.
• The Greyhounds shot 48 percent from three and 48 percent overall in the contest while holding the Eagles to 26 percent overall. They also led in rebounding, 43-31.

How it Happened

• After two quick baskets for each team, the contest went scoreless for over two and a half minutes.
• The Greyhounds broke the stalemate with a three, going on a 9-0 run while AU went through a six minute scoreless drought before Moore-Nicholson got a layup with two minutes to play in the quarter.
• Through one, Loyola led 16-6; American had commit five turnovers to Loyola's three.
• The second frame was opened by back-to-back triples from the Greyhounds to go up 16 points, ahead 22-6, and the tide stayed on the side of Loyola, and the home team would go up 27-6 before Moore-Nicholson earned a trip to the line and sunk two free-throws to score American's first points of the frame at the 7:21 mark.
• Laura Salmeron went 4-for-4 from deep in the first half, and Koi Sims did what she does best, each player with 12 points going into halftime. The home squad outrebounded the Eagles 23-13 in the first half of play. American was down 41-16 with half to go.
• The Greyhounds were 7-for-11 from beyond the arc and shooting 50 percent from the floor overall at the halftime break. American was shooting just 20 percent and had yet to knock down a triple.
• The third period saw the scoring much more evenly paced between the teams, but Loyola maintained its lead thanks to the advantage built up in the first half. The Greyhounds paced the quarter, 14-11, and led 55-27 through three.
• In the third, Kay and Moore-Nicholson each picked up four more points. Kay's total climbed up to nine, paired with her 10 rebounds, she was leading AU in both stats.
• Anna Rescifina scored the Eagles first triple of the game with 7:54 left to play and Moore-Nicholson matched her career high of eight with a driving layup with 7:23 to go.
• The Greyhounds would finish the day out by topping the Eagles 22-11 in the final quarter to claim the 77-38 victory.

On the Horizon
The Eagles' squad now has a mid-week break to prepare for the visiting Crusaders of Holy Cross on Saturday, Jan. 18. Tip for that game is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be the team's Pride Celebration game.
 
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