WASHINGTON – American withstood a pair of Colgate second-half surges and outlasted the Raiders 68-57 here Monday afternoon.
 
The host Eagles led 36-24 at halftime before Colgate opened the third quarter on a 17-4 run. Rachel Thompson capped that turnaround with a pair of free throws to hand the Raiders their first lead of the game at 41-40.
 
After American regained a 48-45 edge heading to the fourth quarter, Colgate again came charging. This time, the Raiders responded with a 7-2 run that pushed Colgate back in front 52-50 with 6:22 remaining.
 
But American's Cecily Carl knocked down a 3-pointer and followed with a pair of free throws, sparking an 18-2 run that sealed the Eagles' 21st consecutive victory over Colgate.
 
Katie Curtis led the Raiders with 14 points, while Rachel Thompson added 13 and Kateri Stone 11. Summer King pitched in a career-high eight points and seven rebounds, while Mylah Chandler was the rebounding leader with eight.
 
For American, Emily Kinneston led all scorers with 17 points, while Carl scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half.
 
Bottom Line
• American 68, Colgate 57
 
Won-Lost Records
• Colgate is now 4-9 overall and 1-1 in the Patriot League.
• American improved to 5-8 and 2-0.
 
Quick Recap
• The Raiders were just 3-of-12 from the field in the first quarter and 9-of-29 for the half.
• American put 22 points on the board in the second quarter and ended the half on an 11-4 run to lead 36-24 at intermission.
• Stone scored seven in the second period and led all scorers with nine at halftime.
• But Colgate found its third-quarter mojo once again, opening with an 11-2 surge. Consecutive baskets from King narrowed the American lead to 38-35 with 6:42 remaining.
• When Thompson swished a couple of free throws at the 4:51 mark, Colgate's run was 17-4 and the Raiders took the lead for the first time, 41-40.
• American scored the next eight points and then Colgate the last four to make it 48-45 Eagles heading to the fourth.
• The Raiders extended that mini-run into the final period, combining for an 11-2 spurt and taking a 52-50 edge with 6:22 remaining.
• It was nearly more because King had a 3-point try rattle completely in and out during the Raider flurry.
• Colgate looked to be in good shape, however, as the Raiders had earned the bonus the rest of the way.
• But American answered – mainly behind Carl – Colgate's shots stopped falling and the Raiders didn't get to the free throw line again until the final minute.
• The Eagles in the meantime outscored Colgate 18-2. Carl scored the first seven of American's 20 points in the period, including a 3-pointer with 6:06 to play that gave AU the lead for keeps at 53-52.
• Colgate had outscored American 28-14 over the first 13:38 of the second half before American posted its 18-2 response over the ensuing 5:38.
 
Facts & Figures
• The Raiders scored 21 points in the third quarter thanks to 8-of-12 shooting from the field and Thompson's 4-of-4 at the line.
• Thompson also was a perfect 2-of-2 from the field to post eight of her 13 total points.
• The first-year guard – just one game removed from breaking her nose in the win over Lafayette – also dished out a season-high six assists.
• Curtis scored in double figures for the 10th time in 13 games. She leads the team in scoring at 12.8.
• Colgate's free throw shooting has been near the top of the Patriot League all season. The Raiders were a solid 13-of-18 from the line Monday for 72.2 percent, just below their 73.1 for the season.
• But Colgate's opponents have been nearly as sharp. American was 18-of-22 Monday and Colgate opponents for the year are up to 72.8 percent.
• King added to her career afternoon with a pair of blocked shots for the first time in her career. Colgate as a team blocked four American shots.
• Chandler grabbed eight boards to lead the Raiders in rebounding for the eighth time.
                                                                                                                                                                                 
From the Source
• Colgate head coach Bill Cleary: (On the game) "We dug ourselves too big of a hole, and that was a lack of communication on the defensive end. It's just fundamental stuff that we can fix. Our players know and you saw it in the second half.
 
"In the second half, we came out and did all of those little things you are supposed to do. We can't give a team like American – which is a very good team – 12 points (halftime lead) and then say, 'OK, now we're going to play.' That's not a good idea."
 
(On the second half) "We took the lead three times. But when are we going to stop having these conversations at the end of the game where we took the lead three times but ended up losing? That's what we are trying to tell our players – and we're not saying that in a negative way. Our players are talented. We have to believe that if we can put together 40 minutes, we are a tough out."
 
Listen to the rest of Coach Cleary's comments HERE.
 
Gate Grab Bag
 • Attendance at Bender Arena was 321.
 
Up Next
• Colgate stays on the road to complete a two-game trip Thursday at Holy Cross.
• The Crusaders are 2-11 overall and 0-2 in conference after their narrow 57-56 defeat Monday at Navy.
• Tipoff for Grammar Schools Day from the Hart Center in Worcester is 11:15 a.m.
 
—RAIDERS—