Junior guard Talicia Jackson led a fast-paced, run-and-gun Eagle attack with 16 points as AU defeated Patriot League rival Lafayette 68-54 at home on Saturday during women's Phil Bender. The Eagles, winners of three straight games, move into a 4-3 tie with Lafayette in the Patriot League standings.
"Tonight's win was a team victory," Jackson said after the game. "We shared the ball, and there was a lot of contribution from the entire team."
The team led comfortably by double digits for the majority of the game. Even so, the contest stayed close throughout the first half, thanks in part to Lafayette's Vanessa Van De Venter's game-high 17 points.
However, an Eagle rally with three minutes left in the first period kept Van De Venter and her team at bay. AU took a 28-22 lead into the locker rooms. By the time the players emerged again from the tunnel, the Eagles were ready to continue their offensive push.
After Jackson netted a three-pointer to start the second half, there was no stopping the Eagles. AU continued to roll from there and did not stop until the final buzzer echoed through Bender Arena.
At one point, the Eagles led the game by as much as 17 points. Five Eagle players scored seven points or more, including Jackson's 16 and senior guard Liz Hayes' 13. The crowd jumped to its feet as 5'4" guard junior Pam Stanfield careened through traffic and sacrificed her body as she managed to score and create enough contact for the ref to call a foul. Six of Stanfield's eight points came from jarring, "and-one" circus shots, where Stanfield would score the basket, draw the foul and have a chance to take an extra free-throw. This type of play left the crowd cheering for more.
Freshman forward Liz Leer led a staunch Eagle defense with three blocks, while the team caused 15 Lafayette turnovers and grabbed 36 rebounds.
"We are feeling good about the win," Jackson said. "I think we showed that we can beat any team."
The Eagles look to avenge their disappointing 55-37 loss to Lehigh when they travel to Bethlehem, Pa., on Saturday to battle the second place Patriot League team.
