WASHINGTON – It was career-high scoring night for Grace Koepke, but the sophomore forward's 21 points wouldn't be enough to carry American University women's basketball to a victory over Army on Wednesday night. The Eagles would drop 63-43 to the visiting Black Knights from West Point.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Koepke led the Eagles with her 21 points. She also had three rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block to stuff her stat line.
• Laura Nogues was the only other AU player to score in double digits with 11 points.
• Cecilia Kay, the freshman forward, led American on the boards with 11 rebounds. She added three blocks to the defensive effort.
• Army West Point was led offensively by three players in double digits, Trinity Hardy (14), Reese Ericson (13), and Kya Smith (10). On the glass, Smith outpaced the rest of the Black Knights squad with 14 rebounds to go for a double-double. Ericson was all over the court with two rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
• The Black Knights and the Eagles shot an even 36 percent from the floor, but the Black Knights surged ahead by shooting 46.7 percent in the first half alone. The visitors dominated on the glass, too, topping American 43-28 in rebounds.

How it Happened

• Koepke started out the game with two baskets to put American up 4-2 quick, within the first 90 seconds, but then Army took the lead and 5-4 and rolled with it, up 15-8 by the media timeout at 2:53.
• Koepke had six points and Kay had 2 for the Eagles. Army's 15 points was the result of five different players in scoring position.
• West Point kept American off the board for the remainder of the first and extended their lead, up 20-8 through one. Ericson had six points for Army at the end of the first.
• Down, but not out, AU grinded back into it, going on a 7-2 run and keeping the Black Knights scoreless for four and a half minutes during the run. Five of the points came from Nogues, dropping a layup and triple, the Eagles' first of the game.
• American was down 24-15 at the midway point of the frame, the Black Knights scoring fast out of the media timeout to extend the lead to double digits, up 11.
• Off an assist from Nogues with six second left in the first half, Bailey Garbee drained a three pointer that struck a positive note as the teams headed into the locker room, American down 10, 33-23. American went 3-of-4 from beyond the arc to close out the half.
• Coming out of the break, American relied heavily on Nogues. The junior scoring all six of the Eagles' points of the first six minutes of the third. Army West Point kept the pace up through, outscoring AU 9-6 and holding their lead, up 42-29 with 4:17 to go until the final quarter.
• AU would be held scoreless for the remainder of the third frame, down 50-29 going into the fourth. Nogues and Koepke led the Eagles with 11 points each through three.
• The Eagles would go on to outscore AWP 14-13 in the final frame, shooting 42 percent. Koepke, who dropped 10 in the frame, led AU in scoring in the final period, but it wouldn't be enough to carry American back into the game.
• American dropped 63-43 to the Black Knights before starting a two-game road stint.

On the Horizon
After two home games in Bender, the Eagles are now back out on the road to take on Boston University on Saturday, Feb. 22. First tip between the Terriers and the Eagles will be 2 p.m. in Case Gymnasium.

Follow the Eagles
Instagram | Twitter | AUEagles | Facebook