WASHINGTON – American closes out the nonconference season with a bookend, 65-61, win over UMBC on Sunday afternoon. The Retrievers put up a fight in the end, outscoring the Eagles 23-16 in the final period to climb back from a 20-point deficit in the third period, but AU was able to hold on for the nail-biting win.
Inside the Box Score
- Madisyn Moore-Nicholson matched her career high on the afternoon, tapping out at 20 points. The sophomore guard was all over the floor, tallying four rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
- Charlotte Tuhy was back in the spotlight this afternoon, two boards shy of her seventh double-double, with 20 points and eight rebounds. Tuhy also earned a new career high when she topped her previous career-high of 13 points.
- For the first time all season, the Eagles led in points in the paint 36-34. AU still struggled with scoring bench scoring, though, only accruing two to UMBC's 20.
- Jade Tillman, the leading scorer for UMBC all season, put up 13 points to keep her team in the fight. She also led the Retrievers with seven boards and four steals.
How it Happened
- The Eagles and Retrievers saw a slow start, the scoreline reading 4-all at the 6:08 mark in the first. Anna Rescifina gave AU their first lead, 6-4, with a layup off a pass from Moore-Nicholson that cut straight through the defense. American would hold a 12-8 lead through one.
- A three-pointer from Moore-Nicholson to push the Eagles' lead to eight, 22-14, would force the Retrievers to take a timeout with 5:53 to play in the first half. For Moore-Nicholson, it was her 10th point of the game. She was trailed closely by teammate Tuhy with eight.
- American held onto their lead in the second, carrying its first advantage of the season into halftime, up 11 points, 32-21, over the Retrievers. Both Tuhy and Moore-Nicholson had 10+ points, Tuhy with 11 and Moore-Nicholson with 10, as the teams headed into the locker room. Tuhy also had six rebounds, leading all players on the floor.
- The Eagles were cruising to open the second period, outscoring the Retrievers 17-8 at one point, but the visitors came charging back, dropping 17 points to match AU's scoring in the period. What was once a 20-point lead, was back to 11 for AU with 10 minutes to play for it all.
- Tuhy and Moore-Nicholson each had 16 points, Rescifina was holding eight as the fourth period kicked off.
- The fourth opened with the squads going relatively even through the first five minutes, AU with six points, UMBC with four, American leading, 55-43, with 4:30 to play.
- The Retrievers came back again, outscoring the Eagles in the fourth, 15-10 with 33.2 seconds left to play down six points, 55-53.
- UMBC regained possession after a pair of made Tuhy free throws had the scoreline 61-53 with 30 seconds to go, sinking a three-point jumper to bring the score within five, down 61-56. The game came down to fouls when the Eagles regained possession and were fouled, Tuhy sinking one of two to put AU up 62-56.
- Three Retrievers finished the contest with four fouls, Tillman's fourth sending Lexi Salazar to the line to sink both free throws. A quick three on the other end though had the score 64-61, with 1.1 to play with Salazar going back to the line. Salazar made the second and it was a four point game.
- American held on after being outscored 18-13 in the final period to claim the 65-61 victory.
On the Horizon
The Eagles will begin Patriot League play on New Years Eve in Baltimore against Loyola Md. The game is available to stream live on ESPN+ when it goes live at 1 p.m.
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