Nov. 29, 2014

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - American earned its first win of the season -- and it was a big one -- as the Eagles knocked off Gonzaga 59-56 in their first game in the South Point Thanksgiving Classic Friday in Las Vegas, Nev.

Junior forward Michelle Holmes scored a season-high 15 points and American outscored the Zags 41-30 over the final 20 minutes to rally from a halftime deficit. Gonzaga, who had received votes in both national polls last week, suffered its first loss of the season.

Army (4-1) and Navy (3-3) won their fourth and second game in a row, respectively. Kelsey Minato sparked the Black Knights past UC Santa Barbara 61-39 with a season-high 26 points in a homecoming game to her native California. Freshman Taylor Dunham scored a career-high 13 points as the Mids erupted for 50 second half points in a 71-64 over UNC-Greensboro in the Navy Classic.

Playing its second ranked team in three days, Colgate (0-5) fell at No. 21 Rutgers 60-44, two nights after losing at No. 22 Georgia. Lafayette (3-2) also faced a ranked foe, suffering a 102-61 setback at No. 12 Louisville despite a season-high 20 points from Jamie O'Hare. Boston University (2-3) lost 56-49 to host New Mexico in the opening round of the UNM Thanksgiving Tournament.

Full recaps and box scores from each game can be found at the Patriot League women's basketball schedule. Four teams will take the court on Saturday, with three playing for the second time in as many days. American (Oregon), Boston University (Stephen F. Austin) and Navy (Grand Canyon) will all be playing int he second game of their respective tournaments. Bucknell will host Cornell at 2 p.m.

Highlights from the Friday's action are included below.

Patriot League Women's Basketball Notes - Nov. 28

*American held Gonzaga, who entered the game averaging 84 points per game, to its lowest point total of the season in a 59-56 victory.
* Brianna Johnson (Fontana, Calif.) and Kelsey Minato (Huntington Beach, Calif.) each played in their home state for the first time in their collegiate careers in Army's win over UCSB.
*The 50 second half points by Navy in a win over UNCG were the most scored by a Stefanie Pemper-coached squad in her seven years in Annapolis, Md.
*Boston University was outscored 22-10 over the final 12 minutes of a 56-49 loss to New Mexico in the opening round of the UNM Thanksgiving Tournament.
*Colgate held a 16-11 advantage in points scored off of turnovers in a loss at nationally-ranked Rutgers.
*A pair of 14-point first half runs by host Louisville doomed Lafayette in a loss to the nationally-ranked Cardinals.
*Junior forward Michelle Holmes scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds in American's win over Gonzaga.
*Kelsey Minato shot 10-for-14 from the floor, including 5-of-8 from behind the arc, as Army shot 59% from the field in a win at UCSB.
*Freshman guard Taylor Dunham entered the game with UNCG with four points on the season, but netted 13 in the Mids win in the Navy Classic.
*Sophomore guard Sarah Hope matched her career-high with 19 points, going 5-for-8 from beyond the arc and 7-of-10 overall while playing all 40 minutes in BU's loss at New Mexico.
*Junior guard Randyll Butler finished one point and one rebound shy of a double-double in Colgate's loss at Rutgers.
*Junior guard Jamie O'Hare shot 7-of-12 from the field, including 4-of-8 from behind the arc, for a game-high 20 points in Lafayette's loss at Louisville.