HAMILTON, N.Y. – A slow start to the game on both sides didn't last long and ultimately led to the Colgate Raiders cruising past the Eagles of the American University women's basketball team 85-43 on the road in upstate New York on Saturday.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Four Eagles finished with seven points; freshmen Madisyn Moore-Nicholson and Cecilia Kay, along with junior Laura Nogues, and senior Bailey Garbee each tallied seven.
• Kay led all players on the court with 11 rebounds, her 12th time leading AU this year. Nogues had a team leading four assists and four steals.
• Despite Kay's efforts, American was outrebounded 44-26.
• The Raiders had four players scoring in double digits, led by Anne Blair with 17 points. She also had five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Sophie Diehl and Madison Schiller led for Colgate on the boards with seven apiece. Schiller also led the squad with six assists and three steals.
• On the day the Raiders shot 57 percent from the floor overall and 47 percent from three while American was held below 30 in both stats, shooting 28 percent from the floor and 27 percent from three.

How it Happened

• Neither team was able to sink a bucket through almost three full minutes before the Raiders' leading scorer on the season, Taylor Golembiewski, hit a mid-range jumper at the 7:06 mark. The Eagles got on the board a little over a minute later with a free throw from Anna Rescifina.
• American struggled to get started offensively, not scoring from open play until Ivy Bales knocked down a mid-range jumper with 3:27 left to go in the first. At that point, Colgate led 12-3.
• Garbee picked up her second and third foul within moments of each other and came out of the game with 1:42 to go in the first, limiting the Eagles' options. Colgate led 18-9 through one and Moore-Nicholson had six of the team's points on 3-for-4 shooting.
• Kay got going offensively, grabbing three baskets in the first five minutes of the second quarter, but Colgate was still surging ahead. The Raiders were up 35-18 with four minutes to go until halftime.
• The Raiders led the Eagles 42-24 at the break. For Colgate, Diehl had 12 points, McMahon had eight, and Bair had seven.
• American improved offensively and was shooting 38.5 percent through the half, but Colgate was shooting 60 overall and 38 percent from three, going 82 percent from the free throw line and taking nine points from the spot.
• Garbee and Bales picked up their fourth personal foul each within the first two and a half minutes of the game, something that would limit the depth and rotation of the already limited Eagles' squad.
• Through the first four minutes of the second half, American was held scoreless while Colgate added ten to their lead until Nogues scored a driving layup and Garbee, back in the game, scored a three point basket. Those two baskets were the only ones American would score in the third. The Raiders would outscore AU 21-6 in the frame.
• Colgate went on an 8-3 run to start the final quarter, before AU fought back with another three point basket, this time from Lexi Salazar. With four minutes left to play, Colgate had outscored American 13-8 in the quarter and was ahead 76-38.
• Final, at the end of the game, was Colgate defending their home court for the ninth time this season, winning over American, 85-43.

On the Horizon
The Eagles' squad returns home to take on the Leopards of Lafayette for their first matchup of the season on Wednesday, Jan 29. First tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Bender Arena. It will be the team's Play4Kay Pink Game, so be sure to show up wearing your pink!
 
Follow the Eagles
Instagram | Twitter | AUEagles | Facebook