WASHINGTON – The Eagles closed out their season of Saturday gameplay in Bender Arena, with a midweek contest to come next week, with an afternoon battle against Colgate. The Raiders took control of the game in the second frame, and despite the American University women's basketball team closing in a few times, it wouldn't be enough to overcome the deficit created and AU fell 83-64 in Bender.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Senior Bailey Garbee led offensively for American for most of the game, setting a new career high of 17 points. The guard shot 5-of-7 from the floor and stuffed her stat sheet with two rebounds, three assists, and a steal. She went 5-of-6 from the charity stripe.
• Cecilia Kay hit double-digit scoring, leading the squad on the afternoon, but struggled on the boards. The forward dropped 18 points and collected six rebounds.
• Anna Rescifina got hot in the final quarter after struggling offensively to start the game. The junior finished with 11 points and led AU with two steals.
• There were four Raiders in double-digit scoring position: Anne Bair (22), Morgan McMahon (18), Taylor Golembiewski (16), and Sophie Diehl (11). Diehl started the game hot for the visitors, shooting 4-of-5 to go with six rebounds, three assists, and a steal, but foul trouble kept her from making a larger contribution.
• Colgate led on the glass with a 34-24 advantage in rebounding. Golembiewski topped all players on the court with her nine rebounds.

How it Happened

• Off to a quick start, Garbee opened the game with a step-back jumper to put the Eagles on the scoreboard.
• Kay and Lexi Salazar helped to keep up the pace, Kay with a layup and Salazar hitting a three-pointer early in the first quarter. All three ties from the game were in the first ten minutes.
• Through the first ten minutes, AU was shooting 40 to Colgate's 41 percent and The Eagles were down only three, 17-14.
• The Raiders charged ahead in the second period with a 12-0 run to put the score at 27-18 with six minutes until halftime. Their leading scorers, Bair and Golembiewski, broadened the gap between the Eagles before Bales driving layup broke it up.
• After a few unanswered baskets, Salazar dropped her second three to cut the deficit to ten. Followed by Rescifina sinking a three after her fifth minute in the game.
• Kay heading to the line after making a layup, made her free throw to put the Eagles at 27-39 against the Raiders going into the half. The Eagles stayed steady offensively, shooting 41 percent while the Raiders improved to 48 percent in the first half.
• With the help of Kay, scoring was relatively even throughout the early part of the third, AU leading in scoring 9-8 through the first four minutes of the frame and down 47-36 before an Ivy Bales turnaround jumper brought the deficit back into single digits.
• After falling behind, several breakaway plays helped pick up the pace with six minutes to go in the third period. The Eagles used some steals to put up four more points, Bales putting up two more and Kay staying strong under the basket with two more layups, Eagles down 51-40.
• Having a prolific afternoon, Garbee drained her second three-pointer of the game, on 2-of-2 shooting from distance and 5-of-6 shooting overall, the senior hit 17 points to bring the Eagles within four, down 49-53 with 1:43 to play in the penultimate frame.
• The quarter closed with AU down eight, the Raiders scoring four unanswered to top AU 57-49 with one block to play.
• Going into the final frame, Rescifina had three points, and adding two more baskets and a free throw to hit double-digit scoring, 11 points.
• Adding some pressure to the Raiders, the Eagles hustled to stay on the ball, but drawing three fouls would help to keep Colgate ahead. Molly Driscoll drained a three for the Eagles, only to be answered by another three from Colgate's McMahon.
• Rescifina drained her second three-pointer of the game on 2-of-2 shooting to bring the Eagles back within 10 points, the closest they'd get for the remainder of the afternoon, with 4:24 to play.
• In the final minute, Driscoll was taken to the line and made one to put the Eagles free throw percentage at 50. The Raiders did not lose their lead since the first period and held onto it until the clock ran out. With a final score of 83-64, the Eagles could not close the gap.

On the Horizon
To close out the regular season, the Eagles will take on Bucknell on Wednesday, Mar. 5 at 7 p.m. in Bender Arena.

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