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American Holds On For 71-67 Win at Lehigh
Eagles have five players in double figures for third Patriot League win

January 18, 2003

Chanel Spriggs had nine points in the final five minutes to help lead the Eagles to a 71-67 win over Lehigh

Gameday Central
American	71
Lehigh	67
Box Score
Points: Costenbader (AU) 16, Spriggs (AU) 16; Ransom (LU) 14 Rebounds: Werries (AU) 5; Ransom (LU) 8 Assists: Hunt (AU) 8; St. Laurent (LU) 3

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — In a tale of two halves, the American University women's basketball team was able to fight off a strong second half by Lehigh to claim its third straight Patriot League win, 71-67. AU is now 10-6 overall and tied for first place in the Patriot League with Holy Cross at 3-0. The Eagles have reached the 10-win mark faster than any AU team since the 1997-98 season. Katryn Costenbader and Chanel Spriggs led AU with 16 points each as five Eagles scored in double figures.

After not scoring for the first three minutes of the game, Mariam Veppumthara got the Eagles on the board. AU took off from there and the second of Costenbader's four first half three-pointers gave the Eagles their first lead of the game, 8-6. Joanna Barnes and Spriggs each drained long baskets to help spark the AU run.

A pretty pass from Chanel Hunt to Barnes gave the Eagles a 19-11 lead. A Kaitlin Schuyler three-pointer opened a 13-point AU advantage. After the Mountain Hawks got to within seven, American used a 12-4 run to close the half, leading 43-28.

The Eagle lead stretched to 17 in the second half with AU holding a 54-37 advantage with 14:31 to play after a layup by Costenbader. With the Eagles putting the Mountain Hawks in the bonus with 12:25 to play, Lehigh stormed back with a 12-0 run over four minutes to close within five, 54-49. A traditional three-point play by Spriggs ended the drought for AU, but could not stop the momentum gained by the Mountain Hawks.

Two free throws by Jana Ransom tied the game at 57 with 7:30 to play and Anne Tierney gave Lehigh the lead with two free throws of her own. Schuyler answered for AU with one of her three three-pointers to put the Eagles back on top. However, Dawn Gorynski made a three for Lehigh to give the Mountain Hawks a 62-60 lead.

With under five minutes to play, Costenbader stole the ball and Spriggs converted on an old-fashioned three-point play to give the Eagles the lead for good, 63-62. After a basket by Jessica DePalo cut the AU lead to 65-64, Schuyler scored on a fast break layup off a feed from Hunt. Moments later, Hunt found Spriggs for a layup giving the Eagles a 69-65 lead. With AU up four with 27 seconds to play, Hunt stole the ball to seal the victory for the Eagles.

Joining Costenbader and Spriggs in double figures was Barnes with a career-high 10, Hunt with 11 and Schuyler with 13. Hunt also had a career-high eight assists to lead the Eagles. Spriggs had five steals for AU while Hunt had four. The Eagles shot 46.0 percent from the floor and were a season-best 43.8 percent from behind the three-point arc.

American returns to Bender Arena Friday night to host Colgate in Patriot League action at 5:30 p.m.