Box Score WASHINGTON – Taylor Brown totaled 13 points, including a pair of decisive free throws with five seconds left in regulation, to lift American to a 51-50 home victory over Loyola University Maryland on Saturday.

Delaney Connolly had put the Greyhounds in front through a free throw of her own with 32 seconds remaining, but a light contact foul down low was called the following possession. Brown, who had been 2 for 7 from the charity stripe beforehand, hit both of her two attempts when it mattered most.

Taleah Dixon led all scorers with 14 points for Loyola (0-9 PL, 0-5 South), while Emily McAteer supplied 12 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Jade Edwards (13 points) and Emily Fisher (10 points) joined Brown in double figures for the Eagles (4-3 PL, 4-1 South), who were playing in their first game since January 24.

The Greyhounds held a 16-12 advantage after one quarter, with McAteer and Isabella Therien combining for nine of the visitors' points. The offense stalled in the following 10 minutes, with American outscoring Loyola by a 16-4 margin to take a 28-20 lead into the break.

The lead grew to 33-22 early in the third. Two Dixon free throws, though, capped a 10-0 run which pulled the Greyhounds back within one, and it remained a close game for the remainder of the contest.

American led 47-40 with 5:41 left in the fourth, but was held to four points the rest of the way as Loyola chipped away at the deficit. Two more Dixon free throws leveled the score at 49 apiece with 1:19 left to set up the final-minute sequence.

The Greyhounds' last six defeats have now been decided by single digits. Loyola set a new season-high with 13 steals on Saturday, as McAteer, Dixon and Laryn Edwards each led the way with three thefts.

The two teams meet up again on Sunday afternoon, with a 12 p.m. tip-off that will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network.