EMAIL THIS PAGE

American Falls to Navy in Double Overtime, 75-72
Hunt scores career-high 34 points in defeat

February 11, 2003

Chanel Hunt scored a career-high and Alumni Hall record 34 points in AU's loss at Navy.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Chanel Hunt scored a career-high 34 points but it was not enough as American University's women's basketball team (13-9, 6-3 PL) fell to Navy (14-8, 4-5 PL), 75-72 in double overtime. Hunt's 34 points are the third-most in AU history and set a new record for a women's basketball player in Navy's Alumni Hall.

Navy jumped out to an 8-0 lead to start the game. Hunt broke the AU drought with a jumper with 16:08 remaining in the first half. She scored the Eagles' first seven points including a traditional three-point play as AU sliced the Navy lead to 11-7. After a Chanel Spriggs basket brought the Eagles within two, Navy went on a 12-3 run to open a 23-12 lead.

Jenyce Woodruff scored five straight points to help bring AU within seven. Another basket by Hunt brought the Eagles to a 23-18 deficit. Navy reeled off five straight points to stretch the lead back to 10. Hunt scored on another jumper with 3:29 remaining to bring the Eagles within six, but AU could not score for the rest of the half. A basket by Navy's Courtney Davidson as time ran down gave the Mids a 32-24 halftime lead. Hunt had 15 of American's 24 first half points as the Eagles only shot 34.6 percent from the floor.

AU started quickly in the second half with Joanna Barnes and Maria Werries each scoring to bring AU within four. A three-pointer by Davidson stretched the Navy lead back to seven, but the Eagles closed to 37-36 on a layup by Barnes. A Katryn Costenbader three finally brought AU even with Navy at 39.

The teams battled back-and-forth with AU finally taking a four-point lead following baskets by Hunt and Barnes. After a shot clock violation by the Eagles, Adrienne Roseti scored in the paint and Ashley Pelzek knotted the game at 54. Kate Maslowski had a put-back of a Navy miss to give the Mids the lead and Lisa Steinmetz stretch the advantage to four at 58-54 with under a minute to play.

Hunt continued her dominant game by driving the lane to make a layup and getting fouled. She missed her foul shot, but Spriggs was there for the rebound. The Eagles got the ball back to Hunt and she made a baseline jumper to tie the game at 58 with 37.8 seconds remaining. AU played solid defense and the teams headed to overtime.

Spriggs scored on a layup to start the overtime and Hunt scored off an inbounds play, giving the Eagles a 62-58 lead. Two free throws by Costenbader upped the AU lead to five before Davidson gave the Mids the lead with seven straight points. The Eagle defense forced Navy into a backcourt violation with 10 seconds remaining setting up the final possession for AU. Hunt took the ball to the basket and scored forcing a second overtime.

In the second overtime, all of AU's points came from the free-throw line. Navy took the lead for good on a three-point play by Maslowski to open a 73-70 lead. Two free throws by Hunt brought AU to within 73-72, but Maile Shimoda hit two foul shots with five seconds remaining to clinch the game.

Hunt was the only AU player in double-figures, with her 34 points coming on 14-of-22 shooting. Her 14 made field goals ties the AU school record and she also grabbed seven rebounds for the Eagles. Barnes set a career-high with 10 assists in the game. The Eagles shot 39.7 percent from the floor while outrebounding Navy, 55-50.

The Eagles return home on Saturday to host Lehigh. Tip-off is at 3:15 p.m.