Army Women's Basketball Prepares for Nonleague Finale (Courtesy of Army West Point Athletics)
WEST POINT, N.Y. - After last playing over a week ago, the Army West Point women's basketball team is back at home on Saturday to face Emerson at 1 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
TELEVISION * None
RADIO * 1420 WLNA-AM/1260 WBNR-AM
VIDEO * Patriot League Network
GAME NOTES * Army Notes
TICKETS * Women's Basketball tickets
STORYLINES
Army extended its winning streak to five games with a 71-35 victory over NJIT on Dec. 11. The Black Knights reached the 50 percent shooting mark for the third game in a row, making exactly 50 percent (25-of-50) of their attempts after shooting 51.9 percent and 50 percent in wins over St. Francis Brooklyn (Dec. 8) and Albany (Dec. 5), respectively.
The three-game streak ties for the longest under 10th-year head coach Dave Magarity, as the Black Knights hit the 50 percent mark in three consecutive outings last season (Manhattan, Nov. 22, 56.4% // Air Force, Nov. 25, 50.8% // UC Santa Barbara, Nov. 28, 52.3%).
After scoring a game-high 22 points at NJIT, senior Kelsey Minato became the first player in team history, and the third player in Patriot League women's basketball history, to score 2,000 career points. She hit a three-pointer 1:29into the game to reach the milestone and elevated her career total to 2,019 points by the end of the contest.
THE ARMY-EMERSON SERIES
Saturday afternoon's matchup will be the first-ever meeting between Army and Emerson.
ARMY WEST POINT (8-1) NOTES
* Army limited NJIT to fewer than 10 points in three of four quarters during its victory and tied its season best for the fewest points allowed by an opponent in a half after giving up just 16 second-half points to the Highlanders.
* Joining Minato in double figures was senior Aimee Oertner, who finished the game with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting, to go along with eight rebounds.
* The Black Knights also received strong contributions from sophomore Janae McNeal (8 pts, 4 rebs, 5 assts) and freshman Madison Hovren (6 pts, 3 rebs, 3 stls).
* With a victory over Emerson, Army will become only the second women's team in Patriot League history to reach the 600-win mark, joining Holy Cross, which currently has 711 victories. Army's all-time varsity record stands at 599-512.
EMERSON (3-5, 1-2 NEWMAC) NOTES
* Following back-to-back wins to move to 3-4, Emerson most recently fell to a 61-56 defeat to Lasell on Dec. 10.
* Sophomore Sierra Ducey finished with a double-double for the Lions, with 14 points and 13 rebounds, while also contributing five blocked shots.
* Freshman Charlie Boyle added 11 points off the bench and junior Emily Cameron and sophomore Eastin Ashby each scored eight points.
* The Lions, who compete in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference, have been one of the top teams in limiting turnovers in the Division III ranks so far this season, ranking 12th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.26) and 18th in fewest turnovers per game (13.6).
MINATO DRAWS PRAISE AT THE NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND CONFERENCE LEVELS
Minato earned a pair of weekly awards on Dec. 14, with selection as Patriot League Player of the Week and College Sports Madness Mid-Major Player of the Week, and was named the Women's Basketball Division I Player of the Week by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association on Dec. 15. Minato averaged 26.0 ppg in victories at St. Francis Brooklyn and NJIT last week, while passing the 2,000-point milestone for her career. The league honor is her second in a row and her third this season, after also drawing conference recognition on Nov. 16 and Dec. 7.
NATIONAL ATTENTION
Army is receiving two votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll (released on Dec. 15) this week after receiving one vote in last week's poll. This week marks the sixth week of national rankings, and is the third that Army has received votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll. The Black Knights drew two votes in the Week 3 Poll (Nov. 24, and received a single vote in the Week 5 Poll (Dec. 8). Army has played a pair of nationally recognized teams this season, including a Duke squad ranked No. 14 in the AP Poll and No. 9 in the USA Today Coaches Poll (L, 72-61) and an Albany team that received four votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll (W, 65-62). Army also stands 18th in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 Poll (released on Dec. 15) for its performance over the first nine games of the year.
DIALED IN FROM DOWNTOWN
Army has continued to shoot the three-pointer well early this year after finishing each of the last three seasons atop the Patriot League in three-point shooting percentage (2013-13: 33.3 // 2013-14: 37.2 // 2014-15: 35.4). Through nine contests this season, the Black Knights have made 41.9 percent of their three-point attempts and currently stand first in the league, and fourth among the nation's Division I programs, in the category.
UP NEXT
Army takes a short break for the holiday season before hosting Lehigh in its Patriot League opener on Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m.
WEST POINT, N.Y. - After last playing over a week ago, the Army West Point women's basketball team is back at home on Saturday to face Emerson at 1 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
TELEVISION * None
RADIO * 1420 WLNA-AM/1260 WBNR-AM
VIDEO * Patriot League Network
GAME NOTES * Army Notes
TICKETS * Women's Basketball tickets
STORYLINES
Army extended its winning streak to five games with a 71-35 victory over NJIT on Dec. 11. The Black Knights reached the 50 percent shooting mark for the third game in a row, making exactly 50 percent (25-of-50) of their attempts after shooting 51.9 percent and 50 percent in wins over St. Francis Brooklyn (Dec. 8) and Albany (Dec. 5), respectively.
The three-game streak ties for the longest under 10th-year head coach Dave Magarity, as the Black Knights hit the 50 percent mark in three consecutive outings last season (Manhattan, Nov. 22, 56.4% // Air Force, Nov. 25, 50.8% // UC Santa Barbara, Nov. 28, 52.3%).
After scoring a game-high 22 points at NJIT, senior Kelsey Minato became the first player in team history, and the third player in Patriot League women's basketball history, to score 2,000 career points. She hit a three-pointer 1:29into the game to reach the milestone and elevated her career total to 2,019 points by the end of the contest.
THE ARMY-EMERSON SERIES
Saturday afternoon's matchup will be the first-ever meeting between Army and Emerson.
ARMY WEST POINT (8-1) NOTES
* Army limited NJIT to fewer than 10 points in three of four quarters during its victory and tied its season best for the fewest points allowed by an opponent in a half after giving up just 16 second-half points to the Highlanders.
* Joining Minato in double figures was senior Aimee Oertner, who finished the game with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting, to go along with eight rebounds.
* The Black Knights also received strong contributions from sophomore Janae McNeal (8 pts, 4 rebs, 5 assts) and freshman Madison Hovren (6 pts, 3 rebs, 3 stls).
* With a victory over Emerson, Army will become only the second women's team in Patriot League history to reach the 600-win mark, joining Holy Cross, which currently has 711 victories. Army's all-time varsity record stands at 599-512.
EMERSON (3-5, 1-2 NEWMAC) NOTES
* Following back-to-back wins to move to 3-4, Emerson most recently fell to a 61-56 defeat to Lasell on Dec. 10.
* Sophomore Sierra Ducey finished with a double-double for the Lions, with 14 points and 13 rebounds, while also contributing five blocked shots.
* Freshman Charlie Boyle added 11 points off the bench and junior Emily Cameron and sophomore Eastin Ashby each scored eight points.
* The Lions, who compete in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference, have been one of the top teams in limiting turnovers in the Division III ranks so far this season, ranking 12th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.26) and 18th in fewest turnovers per game (13.6).
MINATO DRAWS PRAISE AT THE NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND CONFERENCE LEVELS
Minato earned a pair of weekly awards on Dec. 14, with selection as Patriot League Player of the Week and College Sports Madness Mid-Major Player of the Week, and was named the Women's Basketball Division I Player of the Week by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association on Dec. 15. Minato averaged 26.0 ppg in victories at St. Francis Brooklyn and NJIT last week, while passing the 2,000-point milestone for her career. The league honor is her second in a row and her third this season, after also drawing conference recognition on Nov. 16 and Dec. 7.
NATIONAL ATTENTION
Army is receiving two votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll (released on Dec. 15) this week after receiving one vote in last week's poll. This week marks the sixth week of national rankings, and is the third that Army has received votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll. The Black Knights drew two votes in the Week 3 Poll (Nov. 24, and received a single vote in the Week 5 Poll (Dec. 8). Army has played a pair of nationally recognized teams this season, including a Duke squad ranked No. 14 in the AP Poll and No. 9 in the USA Today Coaches Poll (L, 72-61) and an Albany team that received four votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll (W, 65-62). Army also stands 18th in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 Poll (released on Dec. 15) for its performance over the first nine games of the year.
DIALED IN FROM DOWNTOWN
Army has continued to shoot the three-pointer well early this year after finishing each of the last three seasons atop the Patriot League in three-point shooting percentage (2013-13: 33.3 // 2013-14: 37.2 // 2014-15: 35.4). Through nine contests this season, the Black Knights have made 41.9 percent of their three-point attempts and currently stand first in the league, and fourth among the nation's Division I programs, in the category.
UP NEXT
Army takes a short break for the holiday season before hosting Lehigh in its Patriot League opener on Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m.
