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EASTON, Pa. - The Maroon and White jumped all over the league-leading Eagles of American University in the first quarter, but they could not hold on to their early lead as American came back to earn a 74-67 win at Kirby Sports Center on Saturday afternoon.

Natalie Kucowski recorded her seventh career double-double, finishing with a game-high 16 rebounds and a team-high 14 points. American answered Kucowski's outburst with three double-digit scorers as Cecily Carl and Elina Koskimies scored 16 apiece, while Emily Kinneston finished with 15. Turnovers plagued the Leopards once again, as American was able to turn 20 Lafayette miscues into 23 points.

"We played well and carried over our energy from our game at Navy," head coach Kia Damon stated. "Our shot selection needs to get better in the heat of the moment, but that is something that will come with experience and we're continuing to grow as a team and get better game-by-game."

The Leopards were knocking down everything in sight to start the contest, going 7-for-10 (70%) from the floor. Freeland kick-started a 7-0 run to start the game with a three from the right elbow. American battled back following the run, with Koskimies pulling the Eagles within one, 9-8. The Leopards answered with an 8-0 run capped by back-to-back threes from Natalie Kucowski and Olivia Martino to head into the media timeout up 17-8. American outscored Lafayette 7-2 over the remaining three minutes, cutting the Leopards lead to 19-15 heading into the second quarter.

American was able to take their first lead of the game in the second quarter after a jumper from Carl put the Eagles up 27-26 at the start of a 6-0 run. Lafayette responded coming out of their timeout near the five-minute mark, as Anna Ptasinski knocked down a trey to cut American's lead to 31-29. Nia Holland finished through a foul to get three points the old-fashioned way as time expired to send the Leopards into the break down by one, 35-34.

The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair, as American edged the Leopards 18-17 in the period. Neither side established a good rhythm, as baskets were falling for both teams and the score was tied four separate times during the quarter. After a three from Koskimies put American up 43-41, Alexis Santarelli knotted it at 43-43 heading into the media timeout. Ptasinksi drained a three coming out of the timeout off a feed from Santarelli, but Koskimies answered with another trey to level the score at 46-46. Martino added a three as time expired to cut the Eagles' lead to 53-51 to start the final stanza.

Lafayette continued to trade blows with American to start the fourth quarter, as Kucowski shouldered the bulk of the Leopards' offense, scoring all five of the Maroon and White's points over the first 5:55. Coming out of the media timeout, the Leopards got two straight buckets from Holland and Santarelli to pull back within three, 63-60. The Maroon and White couldn't get a basket on the next two possessions, and American struck as Carl hit a three to take a 66-60 lead with 1:15 to play. Ptasinski added her fourth three of the game to bring the score to 68-63, but it was too little, too late, as American knocked down its free throws to walk away with a 74-67 win.

The Leopards were able to find success down low, outscoring American 26-18 in the paint. Santarelli played a major role in that advantage, finishing with 12 points. The Maroon and White won the battle on the boards, 31-21, while also racking up 12 steals. Holland finished with a season-high nine points.

Ptasinski was the third Leopard to finish in double figures, knocking down four three-pointers en route to 12 points. With those makes, the Highlands Ranch, Colo. native moves into a tie for third place on Lafayette's all-time leaderboard in made three-point field goals.

The Patriot League schedule marches on for the Maroon and White as they travel to Boston U. on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tilt.