Army Closes Regular Season with Win Over Bucknell

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Army West Point women’s basketball team closed the 2025-26 regular season with a 56-43 win over Bucknell at Sojka Pavilion on Wednesday night to secure its 23rd win of the season and clinch the No. 3 seed in the Patriot League Tournament.

With the win, Army (23-6, 14-4) has its most regular season wins in a season since 2015-16. The Black Knights will enter the Patriot League Tournament as the No. 3 seed and will host Lafayette in the quarterfinal round on Monday, March 9 at Christl Arena.

The Black Knights win over Bucknell (11-18, 7-11) marked its sixth Patriot League regular season sweep of the year.

Kya Smith led the way, leading Army with 15 points and 11 rebounds to record her 11th double-double of the season and her second in as many games. She also dished out four assists.

Taylor Wilson kicked off the scoring on Wednesday with an impressive 3-point play after getting fouled on a made layup. Smith quickly added another basket, and Army was ahead 5-1 after the first few minutes of the game.

Bucknell was able to string together a few good offensive possessions to cut Army’s lead to 9-8 with 2:14 left in the opening period. Army closed the quarter on a 7-3 run to lead 16-11. Taylor Wilson led the way with five points after 10 minutes, while five others also scored.

After shooting 50 percent to open the game, the second frame wasn’t as clean for Army.

The Black Knights shot 3-12 from the field while being outscored 12-10. Eight of Army’s points in the period came from Reese Ericson, who was 3-6 from the field and had 10 points at halftime to lead Army.

Despite the poor offensive quarter and shooting just 37.5 percent in the first half, Army still led 26-23 at the break.

Coming out of the locker room, the two teams traded baskets to open the third period.

Smith had the first five points of the quarter for Army and helped the Black Knights stay out in front 33-29 at the media timeout with just under five minutes left.

Both teams continued to go back and forth and Bucknell had its deficit down to two before Soleil Montrose drained a big three right before the horn to send Army to the fourth quarter leading 41-36. Montrose had six points in the third to lead the Black Knights.

The final period was Army’s strongest of the game, as the Black Knight defense – which entered the game eighth nationally in points allowed – held the Bison to just seven points. Offensively, Army was also much better, shooting 54.5 percent.

Smith pushed Army’s lead to double digits – 48-38 – for the first time all night after a huge layup with just over five minutes to play in the game. The Black Knights lead never fell below seven from that point on.