The American University women’s basketball team (7-23) lost to the Boston University Terriers (11-20) at the Case Gym by a score of 69-58 on March 7. This marks the third consecutive year the team has been eliminated in the first round of the Patriot League tournament.
Under first year head coach Kelly Killion, the team improved from its previous 1-29 record, picking up four wins at Bender Arena and three on the road. One of those wins was a 53-45 win over the Terriers at home on Jan. 3.
The Eagles entered the tournament as the ninth seed, ending the regular season with a win versus Lehigh. Before the game, freshman forward Charlotte Tuhy was named to the Patriot League Third Team and All-Rookie Team.
Starting strong defensively was a must for American, and senior guard Anna Rescifina stepped up early, stopping the Terriers on the first two possessions of the game. Tuhy scored the Eagles’ first points of the game with a 3-pointer from the top of the arc. Sophomore guard Madisyn Moore-Nicholson gave American the lead a few possessions later with a 3-pointer of her own.
The end of the first quarter saw American find more success in the paint. Layups from Tuhy and senior guard Laura Nogues kept the Eagles in front before the Terriers ended the first quarter on a 6-0 run. After 10 minutes, American was trailing 16-12.
Rescifina started the second quarter with a quick layup, which was then followed by a 3-pointer by freshman guard Kayla Greyvensteyn. The Terriers remained resilient, scoring 6 unanswered on their next three possessions.
With under two minutes to go in the half, American trailed 33-21. The Eagles needed to rally to stay in the game. Sophomore guard Elizabeth Archer ended the scoring drought with an offensive rebound that turned into an uncontested layup.
Tuhy kept the momentum going for American with a driving layup on the next possession. A big defensive hold on the next possession gave the Eagles a quick counterattack, which Moore-Nicholson took full advantage of with a massive 3-pointer. However, the Terriers ended the half with a driving layup as time expired, giving Boston a 35-28 lead.
Much like the end of the second quarter, the Eagles started the third on a scoring run. American’s first points came off of a pair of free throws by Moore-Nicholson. She followed that with a 3-pointer from the left corner. A steal and a driving layup by Tuhy on the following possession decreased the deficit to 4 points.
The Eagles utilized the free throw line for the rest of the quarter, making 10 trips to the line and converting seven attempts. In the first half, American did not attempt any free throws. A 3-pointer from Tuhy ended the third quarter, finding American down by 7 points.
Despite a quick start from the Terriers in the fourth, Moore-Nicholson responded with a 3-pointer from the right wing, her 16th point of the game. After the game, Killion praised her efforts.
“I pulled [Madison] aside right before the game and said to her, ‘I need you to have the best game of your career,’” Killion said. “I don’t know why I felt the need to do that, but I just knew she was gonna be our catalyst and give us the chance to be in the game down the stretch.”
After another Terrier run, Tuhy went on a scoring streak of her own. Down by 12 with just over six minutes to go, the Eagles needed their standout rookie to shine. And she did. Over the next four possessions, Tuhy scored 10 consecutive points, two 3-pointers and two driving layups put American right back in the game at 60-58.
Tuhy’s 28th point secured her a new career high in scoring, and her 15 rebound effort secured her 15th double-double of the season. But American would not score again, ending a hard fought duel at the Case Gym with another playoff disappointment.
Even with the early exit, Killion credited her players’ progression over the season, citing their resilience in the late stages of games down the stretch.
“We gave everything we had, so I couldn’t be prouder of the group,” Killion said. “Obviously it’s not the way we would’ve hoped it ended, but I think we’re building really good momentum heading into year two.”
This article was edited by Connor Sturniolo, Matthias Jaylen Sandoval and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Avery Grossman, Mattie Lupo and Nicole Kariuki.
