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Costenbader's Last-Second Shot Sends American Over Bucknell, 75-74
Hunt pours in 23 to lead Eagles

January 11, 2003

Chanel Hunt scored 21 of her 23 points in the second half to lead AU over Bucknell, 75-74.

Gameday Central
American	75
Bucknell	74
Box Score
Points: Hunt (AU) 23, Creamer (BU) 41 Rebounds: Costenbader (AU) 12, Almind (BU) 12 Assists: Hunt (AU) 4, Creamer (BU) 4, Franks (BU) 4

LEWISBURG, Pa. — After trailing by seven at halftime, American University's women's basketball team came back to knock off Bucknell, 75-74 in the opening game of the Patriot League schedule. Katryn Costenbader made a baseline jumper with 3.7 seconds remaining to send AU to the victory. Chanel Hunt led the Eagles with 23 points including 11-for-12 from the free throw line while grabbing a career-high seven steals.

AU (8-6, 1-0 PL) got off to a slow start yet again as Bucknell (5-8, 0-1 PL) opened an 8-2 lead early in the half. The Eagles used an 11-2 run capped by a Damarah Rhymer lay-up to take their first lead of the game at 11-10. AU could not hold the lead as Bucknell opened a 10 point lead with under five minutes to play in the first half. With two seconds to play in the half, Costenbader made a jumper to make the score 30-23.

Hunt took over in the second half, scoring 21 of her 23 points. American opened the second half on a 13-4 run behind seven points by Hunt. The Eagles took a 40-39 lead after a jumper by Joanna Barnes. Bucknell came back with an 11-2 run of its own to go up by eight, 50-42, on a three-pointer by Molly Creamer.

Costenbader led the next AU run and her three-pointer cut the Bison lead to 54-53. Her lay-up with 5:52 to play knotted the game at 59. After two foul shots by Desire Almind gave Bucknell a 63-61 lead. Maria Werries came back with one of her five three-pointers to put AU in front. Two free throws by Hunt gave AU its largest lead of the game at three points, 66-63 with 4:04 to play.

Bucknell regained the lead on a lay-up by Creamer, but Werries answered with another three-pointer. Almind made a jumper to tie the game at 69 as the teams battled down the stretch. After two missed foul shots by BU's Chelsea Smith, Kaitlin Schuyler made a baseline jumper to put AU up, 71-69. Creamer, who had a game-high 41 points, made two foul shots tie the game again. Hunt made a turnaround jumper as the Eagles regained the lead at 73-71 with 41 seconds to play.

AU was whistled for a foul that sent Smith back to the line with 33 seconds on the clock. She made the first, but missed the second. Almind gathered the rebound for the Bison and was fouled. She calmly made both foul shots with 21 seconds to play, putting Bucknell up, 74-73.

After an Eagle timeout, Costenbader missed a three-pointer with under 10 seconds to play, but Hunt was there for one of her nine rebounds. AU called timeout to set up the final play. With Hunt double-teamed, Schuyler found Costenbader open for the basket to give the Eagles a 75-74 lead. Creamer's desperation shot was off as AU held on for the win.

Costenbader had her second consecutive double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Werries also was in double-figures with 21 points for AU.

The Eagles outrebounded Bucknell, 40-37. AU also shot 84.6 percent [22-of-26] from the foul line and were five-for-10 from behind the three-point arc in the second half.

Hunt's 11-of-12 [.917] performance from the foul line is the fifth best percentage all-time in a game at AU. Her seven steals tie her for sixth all-time in steals in a game. Werries' five three-pointers are also sixth most all-time in a game at AU and move her into second all-time in career three-pointers made with 97.

American continues Patriot League play on Tuesday at 7 p.m. with a matchup against Navy in Bender Arena.