Army Women’s Basketball Defeats Navy, 75-61

WEST POINT – The Army West Point women’s basketball team (6-12, 4-4 PL) defeated its rivals from Annapolis, the Navy Midshipmen (1-18, 1-7) by a score of 75-61 behind exceptional play from Senior Sabria Hunter and Freshman Reese Ericson at Christl Arena Saturday in the first of the doubleheader between men’s and women’s for Army and Navy.

Hunter logged her 12th double-double of the season recording 23 points and 17 rebounds as Ericson scored a career high 24 points.

The Army women came out of the gates on fire in a packed and loud Christl Arena filled with much of the cadet corps. Army erupted to an early 9-0 lead behind seven quick points by Senior Sabria Hunter (3-3 shooting), which included converting on an and-one.

Navy broke the early scoring streak with a bucket from Mimi Schrader. The Midshipmen got within five points with a jumper by Lindsay Llewellyn. Reese Ericson extended Army’s lead by seven, making it 13-6 with a layup. Kam Hall made a driving layup converting it into a three-point play, as she was fouled. Army had a 20-8 lead after Ericson again made a layup. With 1:41 left of the clock Navy cut into the Black Knights lead with a jumper by Synde Watts.

Freshman Reese Ericson, playing in her first academy game, scored six points in the first quarter on three separate impressive drives, two which included spin around layups. Army led 22-12 after the first quarter after Ericson made a jump shot with 50 seconds left in the quarter.

Army led 22-12 after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Navy’s Lindsay Llewellyn splashed a three-point make to cut Army’s lead, 22-15. Ericson continued to work making two mid-range jumpers, as Army grew its lead back to double digits, 26-17. With 3:41 left in the second quarter, Navy’s Gia Pissot made a layup, making the score 26-19.

A driving layup by Navy’s Sydne Watts made it a 26-21 game with under a minute in the half.

Army entered halftime leading 28-21 led by Sabria Hunter who logged a first half double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds and Reese Ericson, who had 10 points. Hunter and Ericson combined to shoot 10-15 from the floor in the first half.

In the third quarter, the Black Knights came out firing as senior Hope Brown connected on a layup.

Navy’s Maren Louridas converted on a three-point play, pulling the Midshipmen within four, 30-26.

Several possessions later, Louridas again scored on a three-point play making a layup as she was fouled and converted from the line, as Navy drew within two points, 31-29.
Louridas struck again drilling a three-pointer for the Mids.

Sam McNaughton drilled a three-pointer with in your face defense by Navy on an assist by Ericson.

Back-to-back layups by Sabria Hunter helped push Army’s lead back to seven points, 46-39.

Trinity Hardy beat the buzzer on a penetrating layup to push Army’s lead back to double digits, 52-41 heading into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Reese Ericson made a three-pointer helping extend Army’s lead to 65-48.

Several minutes later, Lauren Lithgow drained a three-pointer, pushing Army’s advantage to 21, 71-50 as Army was victorious, 75-61.