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HAMILTON – American's seasoned starting lineup fought through an early Colgate blitz to post a 73-62 Patriot League decision here Saturday.
 
The Raiders broke in front 7-0 and led 24-18 at the end of a quarter. But American limited Colgate to just 17 points combined over the next two periods to take a 50-41 lead into the final 10 minutes.
 
Colgate rallied again behind a personal 6-0 run from Mackenzie Carroll to pull within 54-48 at the 7:48 mark. That's when the Eagles scored the next 11 points and coasted to their 22nd consecutive win over the Raiders.
 
Colgate's Katie Curtis led all scorers with 20 points, but AU placed its entire starting contingent in double figures. Counting Saturday's contest, American's starting five now owns 203 career starts to the Colgate starting five's 77.
 
Carroll matched her second-best career scoring performance with 16 points, including 3-of-7 from 3-point distance. Rachel Thompson added 10 rebounds to tie for game honors.
 
Bottom Line
• American 73, Colgate 62
 
Won-Lost Records
• Colgate is now 6-14 overall and 3-6 in the Patriot League.
• American improved to 9-11 and 6-3.
 
Quick Recap
• Colgate scored the game's first seven points and led 10-2 when Carroll popped in a 3-pointer with 7:13 showing.
• American pulled within 17-16 but the Raiders went on a 7-2 run to finish the quarter in front, 24-18.
• American took its first lead of the game 27-26 on Lauren Crisler's layup midway through the second period.
• It was 33-29 Eagles when Thompson deposited a pair of layups in the closing seconds. Included was another coast-to-coast dandy to just beat the halftime clock for a 33-all tie.
• After scoring just nine points in the second quarter, Colgate's offensive troubles carried over to the third.
• The Raiders put a season-low eight points on the board in the period. They scored a season-high 24 first quarter points but then combined for just 17 over Quarters 2 and 3.
• Despite that, Chelsey Koren's 3-pointer from the top of the key pulled Colgate within 45-41 late in the third.
• But American responded with the final five points and led 50-41 heading to the fourth.
• Carroll lumped a 3-point basket with a conventional 3-point play for a personal 6-0 run that narrowed the American lead to 54-48 with still 7:48 remaining.
• But the Eagles responded with an 11-0 run as part of six made baskets in seven trips down the floor.
• The lead was 65-48 just under the five-minute mark and American coasted from there.
 
Curtis Still Clicking
• Curtis' 38 minutes played were her most in a regulation game this season. She logged 43 minutes apiece in Colgate's two double-overtime affairs.
• The senior guard scored 20 points for the fourth time this season. She leads the team with 16 games in double figures and seven games as the top scorer.
• Her scoring average is up to 14.1 and she's shooting 43.5 percent from 3-point distance.
• Kateri Stone with two 3-pointers and Curtis with three upped their season totals to 38 and 37, respectively. They are closing in on the 45 necessary to reach Colgate's season top 10 list.
• Curtis upped her career 3-point field goal total to 88. She needs 18 more for 106 to tie Paige Kriftcher (2013-16) for 10th all time.
• Curtis also led the team in both assists (4) and steals (2). She's had the top assist tally in 10 games this year.
 
Other Facts & Figures
• Steph Poland made her first start of the season and played a career-high 26 minutes. Every Raider on the roster has at least one start during the 2016-17 season.
• Poland's five rebounds tied her career high.
• Thompson just missed her season high with 10 rebounds. It's her second time with double figure boards.
• Colgate shot 56 percent from the field in the first quarter but then hit just 13-of-37 for 35 percent the rest of the way.
• American, meanwhile, opened the fourth quarter by making eight of its first 10 attempts.
• The Eagles outscored Colgate 42-18 in the paint for the game.
• American also protected the ball, finishing with 17 assists to just 10 turnovers – the latter figure matching a season low.
• Colgate turned the ball over 22 times, leading to a 21-9 scoring disadvantage in points-off-turnovers.
• Crisler led five Eagles in double figures with 15 points. Cecily Carl added 13 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.
 
From the Source
• Colgate head coach Bill Cleary: (On the game) "American really got after it. We cut it to six and then that 11-0 run really put the nail in the coffin. Coach Gebbia does a great job and they play very well as a team, without question."
 
Listen to the rest of Coach Cleary's comments HERE.
 
Gate Grab Bag
• Attendance at Cotterell Court was 738.
 
Up Next
• Colgate completes a two-game home stand when Holy Cross visits Wednesday.
• The Raiders knocked off the Crusaders 62-54 back on Jan. 5 thanks to a 20-of-23 effort at the free throw line.
• Holy Cross is tied for seventh place with Colgate at 3-6 after dropping a 73-71 home decision Saturday to Navy. The Crusaders are 5-15 overall.
• Tipoff Wednesday from Cotterell Court is 7 p.m.

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