Army Falls to Lehigh in League Championship Game

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Army West Point women’s basketball (24-7) team battled valiantly vs. No. 1 seed Lehigh Mountain Hawks (27-6) with a ticket to the NCAA Tournament on the line falling 74-62 Sunday afternoon at Stabler Arena.

Army led by two points at halftime, 32-30, but Lehigh came out in the second half to shoot 70.0% (14-20) to secure the Patriot League Championship and its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2021.

Army was powered by senior Trinity Hardy, who scored a game-high 20 points, and sophomore Camryn Tade, who added 17 points.

Lehigh showed its depth as six players scored in double figures and all shot at least .44% from the field. Maddie Albrecht was named Patriot League Tournament MVP logging a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Patriot League Champion, Lehigh Mountain Hawks now awaits its selection in the NCAA Tournament.

Tade made her impact felt immediately from the opening tip, scoring the first five points of the game, and knocking down a three-pointer for the first points of the game.

Reese Ericson added a three of her own shortly after to push Army out to an early 8-4 lead.

After one-quarter of play, the score was knotted up at 14 a piece.

The Mountain Hawks came out hot in the second, going on a 10-0 scoring run as Maddie Albrecht knocked down a three and a couple of baskets in the low post by Colleen McQuillen. Lehigh jumped out to a 25-14 lead midway through the second quarter.

Army was not phased and answered Lehigh’s run with an 18-5 run of its own to end the quarter.

Fiona Hastick made a three assisted by Tade to pull back within three, 30-27 at about the two-minute mark in the half. Tade put the Black Knights ahead with her second three of the opening half with 38 seconds remaining to take a 32-30 lead into the break.

At the half, Hardy and Tade had 10 points apiece.

In the second half, the Mountain Hawks showed why they were the No. 1 seed and regular season champs of the Patriot League with a hot shooting performance (.70% from the field).

Lehigh won the third quarter, 20-13 as bench players combined for 13 points for the Mountain Hawks with Remi Sisselman scoring seven points and Whitney Lind scoring six.

Hardy and Tade scored 11 of Army’s 13 points in the third.

Army trailed by five, 50-45 entering the fourth.

Lehigh extended its lead in the fourth on a 16-8 scoring run to push Army’s deficit to double digits, trailing 67-53.

Hastick scored nine points in the quarter for Army and ultimately fell 74-62.

Following the game, Trinity Hardy and Reese Ericson were named to the Patriot League All-Tournament Team. Lehigh and Army were both rewarded with two selections each.

Over the three games in the conference tournament, Hardy averaged 15.0 points and Ericson averaged 10.0 points.

Army now awaits its postseason fate to see if an invitation to continue its season comes from either the WBIT or the WNIT tournament.

Army was appearing in the Patriot League Championship game for the first time since 2016. Army had won the Patriot League in all three of its previous appearances, in 2006, 2014, and 2016.

Army has secured its most wins (24) in a season since 2013-14, tied for the third most wins in a season in program history and did not lose back-to-back games once all season.

Army’s .800%-win percentage is tied for the second-best in a season in program annuals as well.

Army senior Trinity Hardy was selected as a first-team all-Patriot League selection, junior Reese Ericson as a second-team selection, and sophomore Fiona Hastick as a third-team selection during the regular season.