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American Downs Bucknell, 72-60
Barnes paces Eagles with career-high 18 points

February 8, 2003

Joanna Barnes scored a career-high 18 points against Bucknell.

Gameday Central
Bucknell	60
American	72
Box Score
Points: Barnes (AU) 18; Creamer (BU) 26 Rebounds: Costenbader (AU) 9; Almind (BU) 10 Assists: Barnes (AU) 6; Creamer (BU) 5 Steals: Spriggs (AU) 5; Creamer (BU) 5

WASHINGTON — American University's women's basketball (13-8, 6-2 PL) used a fast start and solid play down the stretch to top Bucknell (9-11, 4-4 PL), 72-60. Joanna Barnes led AU with a career-high 18 points. Chanel Hunt netted 17 points and Maria Werries added 10.

A Jenyce Woodruff layup followed by a Chanel Spriggs steal and basket gave AU an early 8-2 advantage and forced Bucknell to call timeout. Hunt found Barnes for a layup moments later as the Eagle lead grew to eight. Molly Creamer drained a long three-pointer to end the Bucknell drought.

With the AU lead at 18-11, Bucknell made two quick layups to climb within three. As the Bison cut the Eagle advantage to 20-19, Werries hit a three-pointer for AU, ending an 8-2 Bucknell run. A traditional three-point play by Hunt and a layup by Spriggs off a nice feed from Werries stretched the AU lead to 28-22.

The teams battled through the rest of the half, but the Bison could get no closer than six points. Angel McNatt scored off an offensive rebound as the halftime buzzer sounded to send the Eagles to the locker room with a 40-32 advantage.

Hunt scored six straight points for AU as the Eagles held a 48-38 lead. Desire Almind made consecutive layups to bring the Bison back within six. A great pass from Barnes to Spriggs for a layup returned the Eagle margin to eight. Bucknell closed to within four thanks to two free throws by Almind, but Barnes was able to get the AU lead back to six.

Werries sank her second three-pointer to give the Eagles a 55-46 advantage with under 10 minutes to play. Creamer answered with a three-pointer of her own just moments later. A baseline jumper by Amy Ketchum brought the Bison within four, 57-53, with just over five minutes remaining.

With the Bison making their charge, Barnes hit a three-pointer to put the Eagles up seven, 62-55. Katryn Costenbader scored seven straight points including a baseline three and followed with a long jumper to put AU up 12 with just under two minutes to play. The Eagles held on for the win as Bucknell could manage only three points in the final 3:46 of the game.

Spriggs, currently fourth in the nation in steals, had five in the game. Creamer, the NCAA's scoring leader, led the Bison with 26 points. AU shot 40.9 percent from the floor compared to only 33.3 percent for Bucknell. The Eagles outrebounded the Bison, 47-39.

The Eagles return to action on Tuesday night as AU heads to Annapolis, Md. to face Navy. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.