WASHINGTON – After falling behind early, American University women's basketball was unable to mount a comeback to overtake the deficit to defeat Yale on Wednesday afternoon, falling 63-54. The Eagles found their fight, outscoring the Bulldogs in the back half, but not enough to change the outcome of the game.

Inside the Box Score

• Four Eagles finished in double-digit scoring position, led by Elizabeth Archer with 12 points. Madisyn Moore-Nicholson, Charlotte Tuhy, and Molly Driscoll each had 10 points in the game. Archer had eight rebounds to add as well.
• On the glass, it was Charlotte Tuhy, once again, who took control for American. The freshman topped all players on the hardwood with 14 rebounds and earned her fourth double-double of the season.
• The Eagles struggled offensively, shooting 32 percent, but after shooting almost 50 percent in the first half, Yale struggled in the second half, shooting just 37 percent overall.
• Yale's Ciniya Moore, on four fouls, finished the game with 22 points to lead all players on the floor. Two other Bulldogs finished in double digits.

How it Happened

• Yale grabbed the tip and was off to the races in Bender Arena, sinking the first basket of the game within 15 seconds and taking a 4-1 lead until Kayla Greyvensteyn grabbed the first AU basket at the 7:41 mark.
• The Bulldogs took a 12-5 lead with four minutes to go in the opening frame. The teams traded baskets and Yale's lead was cut into by an Elizabeth Archer triple but back-to-back baskets on the other end had the score 17-8.
• American grinded to say in it though, going on a 9-2 run to end the period and finish it out down two, 19-17. Both Archer and Moore-Nicholson had six of their points through one.
• The Bulldogs opened the second frame on a 6-0 run, opening their lead to eight through the first two minutes of the second period.
• Driscoll, aside from an early free throw, was held off the board until the 26th minute of the contest when she got a jumper, but Archer had a lead for the Eagles with eight points. Two Bulldogs, Moore and Kiley Capstraw each had ten points through the opening half.
• American found themselves down at the half once again this season, trailing by 11 points with a scoreline of 40-29. The visitors shot 44.7 percent while the Eagles shot 36.7 percent from the from the floor to open the game. American had 30 attempts while Yale had 38. The Bulldogs were outscoring the Eagles 22-14 in points in the paint.
• Opening the second half on a 6-2 run, a mid-range jumper from Driscoll forced a Yale timeout with the Eagles back within seven, down 42-35.
• The Bulldogs responded with a three pointer out of the timeout to reclaim a double-digit lead, adding to it to lead 50-37 with 4:39 to play in the third period.
• Three Bulldogs were in double digit scoring position while none of the Eagles had reached that point yet until Archer hit the mark with a pair of free throws with 4:13 to play in the third.
• It was a low scoring start to the fourth quarter, AU with four points and Yale with five points through the first four minutes of the frame. AU's points came from Anna Rescifina and Tuhy.
• American pulled it back to a seven point deficit, down 60-53 with 2:53 to play in the contest, a three possession game, outscoring the Bulldogs 12-7 to open the final period. From that point through the end, it was a grind. The Eagles were down multiple possessions but playing with a fire that made the game feel much closer.
• At the end, the Eagles would outscore the Bulldogs by two in the back, but it wouldn't be enough to turn it around.

On the Horizon
After taking a break for Thanksgiving, the Eagles will be back up in Philadelphia to take on Drexel on Dec. 3.

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