Black Knights Win Overtime Thriller Against Eagles

WEST POINT – Four Black Knights scored in double figures in Army West Point Women’s Basketball’s overtime win against American, 67-62, defeating the Eagles for the first time since 2017.

Sam McNaughton led the Black Knights with 14 points going 7-of-10 from the floor. Sabria Hunter followed with her 11th double-double of the season recording 12 points and 11 rebounds. Kate Murray contributed 12 points going 2-of-4 from beyond the arc for the Cadets. Alisa Fallon hit key shots for Army finishing the game with 11 points putting her at 1,003 career points. She is now the 19th Black Knight to achieve the feat.

The teams were battling from the start of the game with three lead changes and four tied scores in the first quarter. Army’s offense was efficient in the first ten minutes shooting 64 percent from the floor. McNaughton led the way going 3-for-3 from the floor for six points. Hunter was the next leading scorer with four points and two rebounds. Army was able to keep up with American’s strong offense to only trail by one at the end of the quarter, 20-19.

Army’s defense was strong in the second quarter keeping American to just 10 points. The Black Knights held the Eagles scoreless for four minutes in the period before American hit a shot to tie the game at 24-24. It was a back-and-forth game before Taylor Sullivan hit a second chance layup to give Army the lead with just over four minutes left on the clock (28-26). The senior hit another layup a few possessions later to up the Black Knights score to 30-26. American retaliated on offense to tie the game with 30 seconds left on the clock. McNaughton raced down the floor with the ball and hit a pull up jumper to put Black Knights up by two points heading into the break (32-30). Army out rebounded American 13-10 and scored seven points of second chance shots.

The teams traded points in the opening minutes before American jumped to a 37-34 lead with just over seven minutes left. Lauren Lithgow subbed into the game and knocked down two three-pointers to put Army back on top (40-37). American fought back but the Cadets were able hold their lead at the end of the quarter, 43-41.

The fourth quarter started with two tied scores but one lead change when American hit a three-point play to go up 48-47. With five minutes on the clock, Murray knocked down a three to tie the game at 50-50. American responded with a two-pointer but Army’s offense took off on a 6-0 scoring run to take a 56-52 lead with a minute left. During the run, Fallon hit a pull-up jumper to push her eight points in the game and 1,000 career points.
In the final seconds of the fourth quarter American hit a three-point, tying the game at 57-57 and send it into overtime.

Army went straight to work in overtime scoring the first four points of the five-minute period, 61-57. American fought back but Murray helped close the door onn the Eagles with a three-pointer and two free throws (66-59). The Black Knights walked away with the 67-62 victory snapping American’s nine-game win streak in the series.

“I liked our consistency on both sides of the ball for 45 minutes. We protected our home court with tenacity and grit. This was some of the best team defense we’ve played all year, now on to Bucknell,” said head coach Missy Traversi.