Morris' Fourth Quarter Lifts Black Knights

Wednesday, February 1

Easton, Pa.

7 PM

Army West Point

15-6, 6-4PL

Lafayette

1-21, 0-10PL

Army West Point

Lafayette

Morris' Fourth Quarter Lifts Black Knights

February 01, 2017 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

EASTON, Pa. - Daizjah Morris scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to seal the deal as the Army West Point women's basketball team defeated Lafayette, 63-55, on Wednesday night at Kirby Sports Center.

The Black Knights improve to 15-6 overall and 6-4 in the Patriot League. The win ended a short two-game losing streak for Army. Lafayette falls to 1-21 on the year and is still searching for its first league victory as they are 0-10 in league competition.

Morris was 1-for-6 from the floor entering the fourth quarter and brought the Black Knights back from a five-point deficit. She finished with 15 points overall and was 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. Madison Hovren led all scorers with 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds, which was tied with Aliyah Murray for the team lead. Murray just missed a double-double with 10 points to go along with her boards.

Lafayette was led by Anna Ptasinski's 19 points, including five three-pointers. Ashley Lutz was a force on the glass with 15 rebounds and had five offensive boards. The Leopards had a 29-4 advantage in bench points, while Army had 22 points off of Lafayette turnovers.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

The Black Knights stopped its losing streak at two games.
Army won its fifth-straight against the Leopards and second in a row on the road. Army earned its 38th win in the series.
Lafayette remains in the lead in the series in Easton at 15-14 after Army's win tonight.
Janae McNeal made her 17th start of the season and was part of a point-guard by committee with the Morris twins.
Hovren reached 20 points for the ninth time this season and first time since dropping 30 against Colgate on Jan. 11.
Army shot 66 percent from the floor in the fourth quarter and finished the game at 46 percent. The Black Knights were 15-of-26 in the second half.

TURNING POINT

Morris single-handily brought the Black Knights back early in the fourth quarter with three-straight buckets from beyond the arc to give Army a 51-47 lead with 6:07 remaining.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The teams got off to slow start in the first portion of the opening quarter with a combined six turnovers, but Hovren scored six of the first eight points for the Black Knights and they led 8-4 after the first five minutes.
The Leopards closed the gap late in the opening quarter with a three from Ptasinski to give the home squad a 13-12 lead at the end of the first. Hovren led at all scorers with seven in the beginning 10 minutes.
Army had a short 6-0 run to erase the Leopards lead early in the second quarter, highlighted by a pair of coast-to-coast layups from Murray, who also had a steal and score. The Black Knights had a 22-20 lead midway through the frame.
The teams traded baskets in the final four minutes and the Black Knights had a slim 26-24 lead at the half. The story of the opening half was Lafayette's ability to grab offensive rebounds with nine and a total of 25 boards to Army's 15. Fortunately it was only a two-point difference in second chance points.
The Leopards earned their largest lead of the night thanks to back-to-back three-pointers from Ptasinski and led 32-28, but Army answered with an 8-0 run to regain the advantage at 36-32.
Ptasinski finished with 14 points of Lafayette's 20 points in the third quarter and the Leopards led 44-40 going into the fourth quarter. Hovren wasn't far behind with eight in the stanza.
Morris single-handily brought the Black Knights back early in the fourth quarter with three-straight buckets from beyond the arc to give Army a 51-47 lead with 6:07 remaining.
McNeal put the game out of reach with scoop shot from underneath the basket and converted on the old-fashioned 3-point play to put Army up 60-55. The Black Knights made their free throws down the stretch and played tough defense to earn the 63-55 victory.

UP NEXT