ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Army West Point women's basketball came from behind to earn the Star and the season sweep over Navy with a 60-48 victory on the road at Alumni Hall.
Madison Hovren had an historic day down in Annapolis with another double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Hovren became the all-time leader in career double-doubles with 50 after today's game, and she is only the second player in schools history to have 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds. She reached the rebounding milestone in the second half.
Kate Murray continues to impress with 13 points and seven rebounds, and she hit two more 3-pointers today as one of Army's hottest outside shooters as of late. Jess Lewis had a good all-around game with 12 points, seven assists and three rebounds.
Jennifer Coleman led the Mids with 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists, but also had six turnovers in the game. Bianca Roach reached double figures with 10 points.
ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES
- Army wins the Star for the first time since 2016 and sweeps the season series with Navy for the first time since that season as well.
- The Black Knights got one game closer to evening the all-time series which currently sits at 37-36 in favor of the Mids.
- Army has won back-to-back road games for the first time this season.
- Army is now 8-1 when scoring 60 or more points in a game.
- The Black Knights held their sixth opponent under 50 points.
- Navy was the 11th opponent Army has held under 60 points and is 10-1 in those games.
- Army won a game when trailing at the half for the third time this season, and twice it came against Navy.
- Jess Lewis has now started in 26 straight games dating back to last season, which is a career high.
- Lewis had at least five assists for the 15th time this year and continues to climb the all-time career assist list with 121 after seven today and is one away from ninth all-time.
- She has her first double-digit game since Jan. 16 against Lafayette and for the eighth time this year.
- Hovren reached double-digit scoring for the 23rd time this season and 78th time in her career.
- She added her 17th double-double of the year.
- Murray has reached double digits in five of the last six games after scoring 13 today.
- Murray has now hit nine 3-pointers in her last six games and has scored in double figures in four-straight.
- Army won by double digits for the eighth time this year.
- The Black Knights forced Navy into 21 turnovers and had an 18-10 advantage in points off of turnovers.
- Five of Army's six 3-pointers came in the second half and three were in the fourth quarter.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
· Both teams got off to a sluggish shooting start and Army and Navy were even at 5-5 at the midway point. Hovren was responsible for four of the Black Knights' points, going 2-of-2 from the field.
· The Midshipmen were all over the offensive glass in the early going, bringing down six offensive rebounds. However, despite generating nine more shots, Navy was unable to capitalize and trailed 14-13 at the end of the quarter. The Black Knights did their damage at the free throw line, making seven foul shots on 10 tries.
Second Quarter
- Navy began to attack the basket and find success, resulting in a 13-0 run over the first seven minutes of the new frame. In the first half, the Midshipmen scored 18 of their 26 points from inside the painted area.
- A low-post score by Hovren with 2:51 on the clock halted the Black Knights' scoring draught and sparked a 6-0 run to bring the Cadets within six, 26-20, at the half.
Third Quarter
- The two sides began trading baskets again, but with 4:05 remaining in the quarter, the Midshipmen's advantage was down to three, 34-31, following a 7-3 Army run that featured five points by Hovren.
- Out of the media timeout, the Black Knights tied the game with a corner 3-pointer by Murray. That make started a 19-4 run that carried into the fourth quarter and gave the Cadets their first lead since the end of the first frame. During that stretch, Army went 4-for-5 from beyond-the-arc to go ahead 50-38.
Fourth Quarter
- Navy began to get back into an offensive rhythm and went on a 7-0 run to bring the deficit within five, 50-45, halfway through the final quarter.
- Army answered the Mids with a run of its own to put the game away over the final 4:46 with a 10-3 advantage.
- The Black Knights earned the Star and the 60-48 win by hitting free throws down the stretch.