WASHINGTON – American displayed its first-place credentials here Saturday afternoon in posting a 67-44 decision over Colgate.
 
The Eagles improved to 10-0 in the Patriot League and maintained their three-game lead over a pair of pursuers. Saturday's game marked the start of the conference season's second half.
 
American's Emily Kinneston led all scorers with 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Cecily Carl added 10 points.
 
Nia Ahart was the top Colgate scorer with nine points. Tegan Graham added six points and four assists, while Mylah Chandler (8) and Summer King (7) were the game's top rebounders. King matched her career high with three blocked shots for the second game in a row and added a pair of steals.
 
Colgate from the free throw line was 11-of-13 for 84.6 percent, its best game statistically this season. The Eagles won for the 24th consecutive time against Colgate.
 
Bottom Line
American 67, Colgate 44
 
Won-Lost Records
• Colgate is now 4-17 overall and 0-10 in the Patriot League.
• American improved to 17-4 and 10-0.
 
Facts & Figures
• Ahart led the Raiders in scoring for the third time this season.
• Chandler in her last four games is averaging 7.5 rebounds. She's up to 5.2 for the season and 5.7 in Patriot League play.
• King's three blocked shots upped her season total to 28. She has at least one rejection in seven straight games and entered Saturday's play fourth in the Patriot League.
• The Raiders finished the third quarter on a 9-0 run, capped by Mackenzie Carroll's fast-break 3-pointer just as the buzzer sounded.
• Carroll was 2-of-5 from 3-point distance to maintain her team lead in both 3-pointers made (21) and percentage (36.8).
• Graham led the Raiders in assists for the fifth time this season – third on the team behind Chelsey Koren (7) and Ahart (6).
• Colgate's five points in the second quarter marked a season low.
• Colgate's 24 turnovers contributed to 22 American points.
• The Eagles assisted on 19 of their 23 field goals and committed just 13 turnovers.

From the Source
• Head coach Bill Cleary (On the game) "American is very well-coached and a well-oiled machine. You can see why they are 10-0 and first place in the league. We have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot with the same mistakes. Today, the second quarter did us in along with transition defense.
 
"We just need to retain what we are learning and apply what we have been taught, and we'll be fine. It's going to come together. I know I keep saying that every game but we're going to get this turned around."

Gate Grab Bag
• Attendance at Bender Arena was 405.
 
Up Next
• Colgate and the Patriot League take Wednesday off and then the Raiders host Navy next Saturday.
• The Mids are 16-4 overall and 6-3 in the Patriot League heading into Saturday night's home game against Lehigh.
• Tipoff next Saturday is 2 p.m. from Cotterell Court, with the Patriot League Network and 94 WKXZ-FM carrying all the action.