EMAIL THIS PAGE

Eagles Fall Into Four-Way Tie for First Place With 79-61 Loss to Colgate
Hunts leads AU with 19 points

Chanel Hunt led AU with 19 points versus Colgate.

Feb. 22, 2004 | Boxscore

WASHINGTON – American University got 19 points from Chanel Hunt (Raleigh, N.C./Ravenscroft), but it was not enough to overcome the Raiders of Colgate as AU lost, 79-61.

In the first half neither team was able to get on track early and American took its first lead of the game at 6-5 on a layup by Chanel Spriggs (Sunderland, Md./Northern) with 14:50 left in the half. The teams traded baskets for another six minutes before the Eagles were able to take a three-point lead (17-14) with 8:22 remaining. However, Colgate scored 19 of the next 23 points to take a commanding 33-21 lead. American’s last lead of the game during the run came at 21-20 after a Tara Williams (Newport News, Va./Heritage) free throw broke a 20-20 tie. Colgate scored the next 13 points before Joanna Barnes (Washington, D.C./Dunbar) was able to break the run with a layup and free throw to cut the lead to 11 at the half, 35-24.

Colgate's success in the first half could be attributed to rebounding and defensive pressure. They outrebounded AU 23-14 for the half, caused 15 turnovers and held American to 39.1 percent shooting (9-of-23).

Early in the second half the Raiders continued to dominate. They scored 17 of the first 21 points to build a 24-point lead just six minutes into the half. Kim Salem (Oakville, Ontario, St. Thomas Aquinas) snapped the streak with a layup and then she tipped a pass. After a bit of a scrum, Hunt ended up with the ball at halfcourt and went in for a layup to cut the score to 52-32.

American could not get any closer than 19 until Angel McNatt (Adelphia, Pa./High Point) reentered the game with eight minutes remaining. She scored seven straight points for the Eagles and her three-pointer with 5:38 remaining brought AU to within 16 points (65-49). Her last two buckets came after she grabbed defensive rebounds. A couple of possessions later Kaitlin Schuyler (Baltimore, Md./Mercy) missed a three, but Hunt followed with the offensive rebound and layup to cut the deficit to 14 points (63-57) with 5:42 remaining.

Hunt then cut the lead to 13 points on a pair of free throws with 2:57 remaining, but that would be as close as the Eagles would get. Hunt finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, five steals and two assists. Spriggs contributed 10 points and six rebounds, while Salem chipped in 10 points and six rebounds.

Colgate was led by Emily Braseth and Malissa Burke, each of whom had 19 points. Milaina Lagzdins hauled down a game-high 19 rebounds.

The loss leaves American at 13-12 on the season, 8-4 in conference play and in a four-way tie for first place in the Patriot League with Colgate, Holy Cross and Lehigh.

American will next play at Army on Thursday, Feb. 26. Game time is 5:30 p.m.