San Juan, Puerto Rico– Winthrop hung on to defeat American on the first day of the Puerto Rico Clasico Friday night.
 
Winthrop (5-3) | American (0-7)
Nov. 29, 2024 | Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez
Winthrop 74, American 66
 
How it Happened
 
First Quarter | Blessing Okoh scored the first basket of the night before American tacked on the next eight points and holding the Eagles scoreless for four minutes. Winthrop scored four quick points on baskets by Ronaltha Marc and Amourie Porter to cut it to 8-6 with 5:03 left in the frame. American then answered with an 8-0 run to go up by 10 with 2:20 remaining. Three Porter free throws made it 16-9 with 27 seconds to go but American drained two free throws of their own, extending their lead to nine with 13 seconds. Ciara Harris would end the quarter by nailing a three-point bomb at the buzzer, making the score 18-12 in favor of American.
 
Second Quarter | Winthrop started the second period with a 10-2 run to take a 22-20 lead with 6:46 left. Six of those points came on two Harris triples. American re-took the lead with five straight points a minute later. Olivia Wagner's driving layup made it a one-point game and then Porter's jumper with 2:43 left put the Eagles back in the lead. American responded with four quick points to go up 30-26 inside of a minute as Winthrop would go on to trail 30-29 at the half.

Third Quarter | Winthrop scored the first three points of the quarter to go up 32-30 after Marc's layup. American tied it seconds later but triples by Leonor Paisana and Okoh and layups by Marc, Paisana and Wagner broke the tie and gave the Eagles a 12-point lead at 44-32 at the 4:50 mark. The Eagles also held American scoreless for four minutes. American did score the next four points only to have Harris drill another triple to go up 11 with 2:55 left. American then cut it to 49-45 a minute later with a 9-2 run but two huge baskets by the Eagles put them up 53-45 to start the fourth quarter.

Fourth Quarter | American got two free throws but Porter scored while getting fouled. The ensuing free throw put Winthrop up by nine. Two free throws and a basket by Marissa Gasaway extended Winthrop's lead to 60-47 with 6:51 left. After American then scored five quick points, Marc's jumper restored the double-digit lead for the Eagles a minute later. American rallied again by scoring six straight points to cut it to four but baskets by Porter and Marc gave Winthrop a nine-point lead at 67-58 with 3:33 left. American again cut it to four with 2:15 to go but three free throws put Winthrop up 70-63 with 56 seconds remaining. American drilled a three-pointer five seconds later but the Eagles sealed the deal at the free throw line with four straight.
 
Statistical Standouts (Team)

• Winthrop moves to 617-910 all-time as a program
• Paisana is now eighth in school history in career triples made (103)
• Porter had a career-high in rebounds
• For the second straight game, five Eagles scored in double figures
• Porter and Gasaway each recorded a double double

Statistical Standouts (Individual)
Marissa Gasaway (28 min, 7-12 FT, 16 rebounds, 15 pts)
Leonor Paisana (32 min, 4 steals, 10 pts)
Ronaltha Marc (27 min, 5-9 FG, 10 pts)
Amourie Porter (31 min, 5-10 FG, 7-8 FT, 10 rebounds, 17 pts)
Ciara Harris (16 min, 4-6 3FG, 13 pts)
 
Up Next
Winthrop faces Air Force tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 p.m. EST.

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