THE OPENING TIP
*     The Leopards host the American University Eagles on Wednesday morning, welcoming 1,300 Easton Area School district sixth and seventh graders to Kirby Sports Center.

*     American won the last meeting 75-65 on Dec. 30, 2022. Makayla Andrews led the Leopards with 23 points.

*    Sophomore guard Abby Antognoli continued her hot streak at Holy Cross, draining 15 points. Junior guard Makayla Andrews had her second career double-double, netting 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. 

*     Four Leopards reached career-highs against Navy on Jan. 11. Sophomore guard Abby Antognoli netted a career-highs in points (24), three-pointers made (5), steals (5) and her first career block. Senior guard Jess Booth tallied a career-high 21 points, while junior forward Kayla Drummond grabbed a career-high 14 boards.

*    For the first time this season, there are three Leopards averaging double figures. Andrews (12.5) , Antognoli (10.7) and Booth (10.6) have been leading the Leopards through the beginning of conference play.

*    Lafayette will host The Rivalry against Lehigh on Saturday at 2 p.m.

SCOUTING AMERICAN
    The Eagles are 3-14 (2-4 PL) on the season. Aside from a win against the Leopards on Dec. 30, American has played Loyola (W, 52-37), Holy Cross (L, 62-45), Boston U. (L, 73-63), Army (L, 77-56) and Lehigh (L, 79-77) in conference action..
    Junior Emily Johns is the leading scorer, averaging 14.2 ppg. Junior Ivy Bales leads American in rebounds (6.2) and assists (3.5).

LAST TIME OUT
      Holy Cross overpowered the Leopards 66-50 at Hart Center Arena on Saturday afternoon.
     Sophomore guard Abby Antognoli continued her hot streak, draining 15 points. Junior guard Makayla Andrews had her second career double-double, netting 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.  
     The Crusaders' junior forward Janelle Allen put up 11 points. Cara McCormack joined Allen in double figures with 10.
     Kylie Favours scored five points in the opening quarter, as Holy Cross took the 17-12 lead into the second quarter.
     At 7:23 in the second, Andrews drained a jumper off of a Holy Cross turnover, bringing the Leopards within three down 19-16.
     Holy Cross rounded out the quarter with its biggest lead in the half, heading into the locker room up eight at 30-22.
     The Crusaders opened the second half with a 15-2 run up to 4:15, taking a 45-24 lead early in the half. 
     Shooting 75 percent (9-for-12) from the floor, Holy Cross extended its lead for the rest of the quarter 51-33. 
     Holy Cross would end up getting a 39 point boost from its bench, and 38 points in the paint.
     Antognoli and Andrews reached double figures in the fourth, but the Crusaders held on to secure the 58-42 win.

MULTIPLE LEOPARDS HIT CAREER-HIGHS
    Four Leopards reached career-highs against Navy on Jan. 11. Sophomore guard Abby Antognoli netted a career-highs in points (24), three-pointers made (5), steals (5) and her first career block. Senior guard Jess Booth tallied a career-high 21 points, while junior forward Kayla Drummond grabbed a career-high 14 boards. Junior forward Aniya Matthews put up a career-high five points, four rebounds, one assist and one free throw in her sixth game for the Maroon and White this season.

HOT STREAK FOR BOOTH
    Senior guard Jess Booth has scored in double figures in five out of the last six games. The Columbia, Md. native put up 18 points against St. Francis Brooklyn, 11 at American, 18 at Army, 13 at Bucknell and a career-high 21 against Navy.
    Booth is currently averaging 10.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 4.0 apg. The senior ranks second in the conference in assists per game behind Lehigh's Anna Harvey (4.5).

LEOPARDS AROUND THE LEAGUE
    Antognoli leads the Patriot League in steals per game (2.1) and ranks third in minutes per game with 34.7 mpg. Booth ranks second in assists per game (4.0) and sixth in assist/turnover ratio (1.1). Drummond ranks fifth in blocks per game (0.8) and eighth in rebounds (7.4). Andrews ranks fifth in field goal percentage (.450).
    Booth's 13 assists at American are the most assists in an individual game across the conference thus far this season. 
    Lafayette ranks second in the league in steals per game with 7.27. 

NATIONAL GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY GAME
    Lafayette College will be celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Jan. 28 with a clinic hosted by the Leopards' female sports teams. The clinic  will run from 11 a.m . - 1 p.m. and is free for girls in grades 3-7. Stay for pizza and the women's basketball game at 2 p.m. to celebrate NGWSD. There will be post-game autographs following the game!