WASHINGTON (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive struggles and missed opportunities, the American University Eagles narrowly escaped with a 66-63 victory over the Delaware State Hornets in a non-conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Bender Arena.

A crowd of 537 watched as the Eagles, playing their season opener, built a lead and then withstood a frantic final possession to secure the win. The Hornets, who evened their record at 1-1, had a chance to tie in the final seconds but could not get a clean look at the basket.

The contest was a statistical oddity, with both teams finishing with identical totals in possessions (73), turnovers (13), offensive rebounds (5), assists (5), and steals (5). The difference ultimately came down to efficiency from beyond the arc and the free-throw line, where American managed just enough production to hold on.

American established an early lead, closing the first quarter up 17-11 behind the play of Molly Driscoll and Charlotte Tuhy. The Eagles maintained that advantage through a back-and-forth second quarter, taking a 31-28 lead into halftime.

Delaware State found its offensive rhythm in the third quarter, outscoring American 21-17 to take a slim 52-48 lead into the final period. The Hornets’ run was fueled by a dominant performance from guard Mahogany Cottingham, who repeatedly attacked the basket.

The fourth quarter featured five lead changes as the teams traded blows. American reclaimed the lead for good with just over two minutes remaining on a jump shot by Charlotte Tuhy, assisted by Anna Rescifina, that put the Eagles up 65-63.

In the final minute, Delaware State had multiple chances to tie or take the lead. With 32 seconds left, Amya Scott was fouled and made one of two free throws to pull the Hornets within two. After an American turnover, Delaware State secured the ball with 19 seconds remaining, setting up a final possession.

The Hornets inbounded the ball to Aniyah Jones, whose potential game-tying 3-point attempt was blocked by Madisyn Moore-Nicholson with three seconds left. Anna Rescifina secured the defensive rebound for American and was immediately fouled. She made one of two free throws, extending the lead to three and leaving Delaware State with one last desperation heave that fell short as time expired.

Mahogany Cottingham was the standout performer for Delaware State, scoring 18 points in 38 minutes of action. She was instrumental in the Hornets’ second-half surge, consistently creating her own shot off the dribble. Rookie Aniyah Jones provided a critical spark off the bench, scoring 13 points in just 11 minutes, including three 3-pointers.

For American, the scoring load was shared evenly. Molly Driscoll, a guard from Allentown, Pennsylvania, led the Eagles with 18 points in a game-high 39 minutes. Charlotte Tuhy and Anna Rescifina each added 13 points, with Tuhy also contributing four assists. Rescifina, a native of Sicily, Italy, was a force inside, playing 30 minutes and impacting the game on both ends.

Both teams struggled with their shooting, but American’s ability to connect from deep proved decisive. The Eagles shot 9 for 26 from 3-point range, while Delaware State managed just 3 for 11. The Hornets also left points at the free-throw line, converting only 6 of 15 attempts. American was only marginally better, making 13 of 24.

Defensively, Delaware State registered four blocks, while American’s lone block came at the most critical moment from Moore-Nicholson to seal the victory.

With the win, American begins its season 1-0 and will travel to face Clemson on Thursday. Delaware State, now 1-1, looks to rebound quickly as they host Penn on Monday. According to Interstat’s ELO system, American entered the game with an 80.60 percent probability to win, a forecast that proved accurate in the tightly contested finale.