BOSTON (Interstat) — In a Patriot League women’s basketball regular season finale that served as a showcase for two of the conference’s premier international talents, Boston University used a decisive fourth-quarter run to pull away from American and secure a 69-58 victory on Saturday at Agganis Arena.

The game, played before an intimate crowd of 211, was a tightly contested affair for three quarters, featuring a compelling duel between American’s Charlotte Tuhy and Boston University’s Anete Adler. The Terriers ultimately improved to 11-19 overall, while the Eagles concluded their regular season at 7-23.

Despite the final margin, American demonstrated significant fight, particularly in the wake of a draining overtime loss to these same Terriers just a week prior. The Eagles kept pace through the first half, trailing 35-28 at the break, and remained within striking distance entering the final period, down 52-45.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded early in the fourth quarter. After American’s Madisyn Moore-Nicholson hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 55-50 with 8:02 remaining, Boston University responded with a swift and devastating 10-2 run over the next three minutes that effectively sealed the outcome. The surge was anchored by their star center, Anete Adler of Keila, Estonia. Adler scored on a hook shot and a floating jumper during the stretch, while teammate Hildur Gunnsteinsdóttir of Selfoss, Iceland, capped the run with a crucial three-pointer, pushing the Terrier lead to 65-52 with just 1:24 left on the clock.

That burst proved insurmountable for an American squad that had leaned heavily on the individual brilliance of Tuhy throughout the afternoon. The junior guard from Madison, New Jersey, turned in a heroic performance, scoring a game-high 26 points in 39 minutes of action. She was relentless in attacking the basket and from the perimeter, keeping the Eagles within reach almost single-handedly during numerous Boston University pushes. Moore-Nicholson provided vital support with 18 points.

Boston University’s victory, however, was a testament to a more balanced and physically imposing attack. The 6-foot-5 Adler was a force in the paint, finishing with 21 points, four assists and four blocked shots, altering countless other attempts. Her presence inside complemented the versatile play of Gunnsteinsdóttir, who tallied 13 points, three assists and a block. The Terriers also received timely contributions from forward Kate Allard of Bedford, New Hampshire, who added 12 points off the bench, and guard Inés Monteagudo of Valencia, Spain, who chipped in eight points and four assists while orchestrating the offense.

The game began with both teams trading blows in a first quarter that ended with Boston University holding a narrow 16-12 advantage. The Terriers began to create some separation in the second quarter, extending their lead to as many as 11 points before taking the seven-point lead into halftime. American, fueled by Tuhy’s 12 third-quarter points, managed to stay within seven heading to the final frame, setting the stage for the decisive Boston University run.

Defensively, the Terriers’ length and shot-blocking, led by Adler, were pivotal. American’s guards found driving lanes consistently clogged, and the Eagles’ offense often stagnated into isolation sets when their initial actions were disrupted. Boston University also capitalized on its size advantage on the glass, securing key offensive rebounds that led to second-chance points at critical junctures.

With the win, Boston University heads into the Patriot League tournament with a measure of momentum, having won two of its final three games. American, meanwhile, will look to regroup quickly as it travels to face Navy in its next contest on Monday, seeking to reverse the fortunes of a challenging season. The statistical projection system from Interstat, which gave Boston University an 88 percent probability to win, ultimately proved accurate, as the Terriers’ interior dominance and clutch fourth-quarter execution were the defining factors in a hard-fought conference battle.