WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Thanks to a massive performance from Kya Smith and smothering defense, the Army West Point Women's Basketball team defeated Lafayette, 65-57, in the quarterfinal round of the Patriot League Tournament on March 9 at Christl Arena.
With the win, Army (24-6) has punched its ticket to the semifinal round on March 12 and will travel to No. 2 seed Holy Cross for a 6 p.m. showdown for a spot in the championship game on March 15. Smith had a monstrous game for the Black Knights, scoring a game-high 21 points and 21 rebounds for her 12th double-double of the season. Monday marked her second game this season with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds, after she had 27 points and 22 rebounds against Howard on Dec. 29. She is one of three players nationally to have multiple games this season of 20-plus points and 20-plus rebounds. The win also marked the 24th of the season, which ties a program record for the most wins in the first year of a head coach in Army program history. Katie Kuester ties Dave Magarity, who also won 24 in 2006-07.
How it Happened
Both teams came out strong in the opening quarter of action on Monday, as the two sides combined for 35 points. Taylor Wilson opened the scoring for Army and had a team-high six points in the frame. Six Army players scored at least two points to help give Army a 19-16 lead going into the second. Lafayette played its best stretch of basketball in the second period, as it outscored Army 17-13 and closed on a 5-0 run to take a one-point lead into halftime. The Black Knights struggled shooting the ball, going 6-18 from the field. The different in the quarter was free-throws, as Lafayette went 7-7 from the line compared to Army's zero attempts. At the break, Taylor Wilson continued to pace Army with eight points, while Reganne Reardon had seven. Army shot 37.5 percent in the opening 20 minutes of action, while Lafayette was sitting at 48 percent. The third quarter proved to be the most consequential 10 minutes of the season for Army, who was able to regain the momentum it lost during the second quarter. The Army defense allowed just six points and held Lafayette to 1-9 shooting. Trailing 37-36 with 5:57 left in the period, the Black Knights closed on a 10-2 run to take a seven-point lead into the final frame. The run, which was started by a two-point shot from Reese Ericson, saw Smith score five points and Reardon add a massive three. The Leopards were not going down without a fight in the fourth quarter, as they opened the frame on a 7-0 run to tie the game up at 46-46 with just under eight minutes to play. The two teams traded points over the next few possessions, and with 4:29 to go, Army found itself behind 52-51. Needing a massive response to keep its championship hopes alive, Army went on an 8-0 run over the next 2:29 to jump back ahead 59-52. Camryn Tade, who finished with 12 points, had the first six points of the run.With 1:16 to go, Smith recorded a massive layup to make it a six-point game, and the lead only increased from there.