Hot Shooting Leads Women’s Basketball Over NJIT

Friday, December 11

Newark, N.J.

7 PM

Army West Point

8-1

NJIT

3-6

Army West Point

NJIT

Hot Shooting Leads Women’s Basketball Over NJIT

December 11, 2015 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

NEWARK, N.J. – The Army West Point women's basketball team reached the 50.0 percent shooting mark for the third consecutive game during a 71-35 victory over NJIT on Friday evening at the Fleisher Athletic Center.

Army, which received a vote in this week's USA Today Coaches Poll, picks up its fifth straight win to improve to 8-1, while NJIT moves to 3-6. The Black Knights shot exactly 50.0 percent (25-of-50) on the evening after shooting 51.9 percent against St. Francis Brooklyn on Dec. 8 and making 50.0 percent versus UAlbany on Dec. 5.

Senior Kelsey Minato recorded her seventh 20-point game of the year and finished with 22 of 7-of-13 shooting. Minato went 5-of-10 from three-point range and added a career-high-tying four steals. Minato sank a three 1:29 into the game to reach the 2,000-point mark for her career to become the first Army women's player to reach the milestone, and the fourth overall player at the Academy.

Senior Aimee Oertner also finished in double figures with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting, to go along with eight boards, while sophomore Janae McNeal tallied eight points, four rebounds and a career-best five assists. Sophomore Destinee Morris and freshman Madison Hovren each contributed six points off the bench, and sophomore Aliyah Murray posted a career-high five rebounds.

Leah Horton led NJIT with 15 points and seven boards, and Camerin Spahn chipped in six points.

"I thought our defensive rotations were great tonight," said head coach Dave Magarity. "I think we found a jewel in Aliyah. Her ability to get her hands in passing lanes was huge for us. We're pretty good when we defend like that. My biggest hope for us is that we have to start establishing more of an inside game. Aimee played well tonight, almost finishing with a double-double."

NJIT controlled an early 3-0 lead, after three free-throws from Kelly Guarino 44 seconds into the contest, but Army came back with 10 unanswered points to jump out to a seven-point advantage by the first period's 6:43 mark.

Included in the Black Knights' 10-0 run from a three-pointer by Minato that made the score and marked her 2,000th career point.

The Black Knights held the Highlanders to a 0-of-6 performance from the field before Alana Dudley buried a three with 4:56 remaining in the opening quarter to pull the hosts to within four, 10-6.

NJIT got back to within four following a pair of free-throws from Maria Ruban to bring the score to 12-8 with 2:16 on the clock before a 13-3 run by the Black Knights boosted the visitors' margin to 14 points, early in the second quarter. Army ended the first frame with a 19-11 lead, and scored the first six points to begin the second period, with McNeal contributing four points during the opening 1:48 of the second stanza to make the score 25-11.

Army doubled up on the NJIT's scoring output over the last 7:12 of the quarter, with the Black Knights using a 16-8 scoring drive to control a 41-19 advantage at the halftime break.

Five different scorers contributed to the run, including Minato, who scored five, and Morris, Murray and Hovren, who all chipped in three points during the stretch. As part of the run, the visitors netted eight consecutive points to close the half.

Horton scored all six points during a 6-1 run by the Highlanders to begin the second half, bringing the score to 42-25 at the 7:50 mark of the third period.

Army went on to force nine NJIT turnovers in the third quarter and outscored the Highlanders, 18-3, during the last 6:45 of the frame to move out to a 60-29 lead at the end of three. Minato led the Black Knights with 11 points during the 6:45 span to include hitting 3-of-4 of her attempts from beyond the arc.

Army, which held NJIT below 10 points in three quarters (eight in the second, nine in the third and seven in the fourth), didn't allow the Highlanders to climb any closer than 32 for the remainder of the contest.

Army is back on the court on Saturday, Dec. 19, when the Black Knights finish out their nonconference schedule by hosting Emerson at 1 p.m.

GAME NOTES: Minato became the first player in team history to reach 2,000 career points … she increased her scoring total to 2,019 by the end of the game … Army shot at least 50.0 percent from the floor for the third contest in a row … Murray scored three points and posted a career-best five rebounds … freshman Gabby Purnell scored two points for the first of her career … sophomore Margaret Anne Hubbell scored two points for the second game in a row to match her collegiate high … Friday's game was the first-ever between Army and NJIT … Army's 8-1 start marks its best since beginning 8-1 in 2012-13.