The AU Women’s Basketball team clinched the top seed in the Patriot League tournament by virtue of their 41-29 victory over the Navy Mids in Annapolis, Maryland. The Eagles hold a two-game lead over second-place Army with only one game remaining in the regular season, meaning all of Eagles Patriot League Tournament games will take place at Bender Arena.
Senior guard Jen Dumiak led the Eagles (20-8, 15-2 PL) with 22 points while sophomore forward Lauren Crisier was the next-highest scorer with seven points. The Eagles were scoreless for the game’s first six minutes and the Mids (15-13, 9-8 PL) raced out to an early 10-4 lead. The Eagles rallied and tied the game up with a pair of free-throws by Dumiak with 6:36 remaining in the half. A basket by senior forward Arron Zimmerman with under six minutes in the first half gave the Eagles a lead they would not relinquish.
The Mids closed the Eagles lead to one point at 21-20 early in the second half. AU responded with a 10-0 run that put the game out of reach while holding the Mids to nine points in the game’s final 18 minutes.
AU won despite failing to top 45 points for the second consecutive game and shooting below 36 percent. In a 45-42 victory over Army on Saturday, the Eagles shot 34 percent from the field; against the Mids, the Eagles were not much better, shooting 35.7 percent. The Eagles had almost as many turnovers (14) as made field goals (15).
Despite struggling on the offensive end of the court, the Eagles displayed the same caliber of defense that has carried them throughout the Patriot League schedule. Twenty-nine points is the lowest point total allowed by the Eagles all season, and the fewest ever scored by an AU opponent. It also marks the ninth time the Eagles have held a Patriot League opponent to lower than 50 points. The Mids shot 20 percent from the field and turned the ball over 18 times.
With the win, the Eagles remain unbeaten in February with their seventh consecutive victory. AU closes out the regular season at Bender Arena Feb. 28 against Bucknell at 7 p.m. Before the game, Dumiak, Zimmerman and Shaquila Curtis will be honored on senior day in their final regular season game at Bender Arena.
