WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Leopards were edged by American, 75-65, in the conference opener on Friday night.
 
Junior guard Makayla Andrews tied a career high with 23 points. Sophomore Kylie Favours and senior Jess Booth joined her in double figures with 12 and 11, respectively.
 
American had a balanced scoring effort with five players in double figures. Emily Johns and Lauren Stack led the way with 14 apiece. Ivy Bales tacked on 13, while Riley DeRubbo and Kayla Henning each chipped in 12.
 
The Leopards and Eagles were evenly matched the first quarter, as Andrews put up five points to send the Leopards into the break, down 18-15.
 
American jumped out on an 11-0 run to start off the second quarter, as Stack and Johns tallied four points apiece and DeRubbo sank a three. Booth responded with back-to-back layups, including an and-one from the charity stripe to put the Leopards within 10 at 29-19.
 
American led 31-22 with less than five remaining in the half. Favours drained a three, Booth nabbed a layup and Andrews hit a jumper to bring the Leopards within two at 31-29. The Eagles closed the half with a 8-7 run, as they headed into half up 39-34.
 
The Leopards held a distinct shooting advantage in the third quarter -- 60 percent to 39 percent. Both teams put up 13 points in the quarter and American headed into the fourth up 52-47.
 
Early in the fourth, Andrews converted a pair of free throws to pull Lafayette within five, trailing 54-49.
 
The Leopards went on a 10-6 run from 6:43 to 4:07 remaining in the game. Kay Donahue and Favours each sank a three, and Andrews added a jump shot followed by a Kayla Drummond layup, putting the Leopards down 64-60.
 
Stack and Bailey Garbee scored two layups to give the Eagles a 68-60 lead with just under three minutes left as the pulled away for the 75-65 final.
 
The Leopards open 2023 at 2 p.m. on Monday at Army.