Women’s Basketball Holds Off Navy, Sweeps Series

Saturday, February 20

Annapolis, Md.

11 AM

Army West Point

23-2, 14-1PL

Navy

14-12, 8-7PL

Army West Point

NAVY

Women’s Basketball Holds Off Navy, Sweeps Series

February 20, 2016 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Army West Point women's basketball team won its program record 13th straight game with a 49-34 win over Navy at Alumni Hall on Saturday afternoon.

Senior Aimee Oertner's double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds along with a career-high seven blocks helped the Black Knights improve to 23-2 on the season and 14-1 in Patriot League play. Classmate Kelsey Minato scored 13 and sophomore Destinee Morris added 11 in the victory. Senior Jean Parker matched her career high with 10 rebounds and scored four points.

Christina Potts led the way for Navy, scoring 10 points and adding six boards, as the Midshipmen drop to 14-12 and 8-7. Peri Curtis tallied seven points and seven rebounds, while Danielle Poblarp added six points.

Navy took an early 3-0 advantage after Curtis finished an old-fashioned three-point play before going on to score the first seven points for the Midshipmen. Army took its first lead after a 5-0 run, which included a three from Minato 2:23 into the contest.

The hosts pulled back to force a 7-7 tie with 4:36 remaining in the first period before the Black Knights tallied five in a row, followed by five straight from the Midshipmen to send the game to a 12-12 tie at the end of one. Morris and senior Brianna Johnson contributed to Army's scoring run, while Poblarp and Taylor Dunham scored during Navy's stretch.

The Black Knights netted five in a row to begin the second quarter and went on to outscore the Midshipmen, 17-3, by the 1:42 mark of the frame. Oertner added six points during the run, while Minato tallied five points, as the visitors led 29-15.

Minato hit a jumper with 1:42 left in the half to cap the 17-3 run and finish a streak of 12 straight points by the Black Knights.

Christina Potts hit a triple with 1:23 on the clock to bring Navy back to an 11-point deficit, 29-18, at the halftime break.

Army held Navy to 25.9 percent shooting (7-of-27) in the first half before limiting the Mids to a 22.0 percent (13-of-59 for the game. The Black Knights finished the contest 37.3 percent (19-of-51) from the floor.

Both teams began the second half 1-of-7 from the floor as Army controlled a 31-21 lead at the midway point of the third period.

Morris scored five consecutive points, including a three-pointer with 3:37 on the clock, to boost the Black Knight lead to 13, 36-23.

Potts made a mid-range jumper with three seconds remaining in the third quarter as Navy trailed, 37-25, heading into the fourth.

Potts scored three straight points to cap a 5-0 Navy run that began the fourth period and brought the Midshipmen back to a seven-point deficit, 37-30, with 6:39 left. Morris sank her third three-pointer of the afternoon 17 seconds later to quiet the run and put Army back up by double figures.

Navy answered with four straight points during a 1:02 span to pull back to a six-point deficit, but Minato hit a three at the 3:24 point of the fourth quarter to start a 7-0 run that made the score 47-34 with 2:03 remaining. Oertner added a final lay-in late in the contest, as the Black Knights closed out the win.

"You have to give Navy credit," said head coach Dave Magarity. "They came in with a great game plan. Their posts are really versatile. This game was a defensive game and I think our defense dictated the game in the second half. Our seniors stepped up for us in the fourth quarter and they deserve a lot of credit."

Army returns to Christl Arena for the final time during the regular season when the Black Knights host Boston University on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. The Black Knights will hold a Senior Night ceremony prior to the game.

GAME NOTES: Army wins its 13th straight game to set a new program record, passing the previous mark of 12 set in 2006-07 and matched in 2014-15 … the Black Knights win their third in a row against Navy to improve to 34-32 in the all-time series … Army senior class moves to 6-2 versus the Midshipmen … Oertner posted her third double-double of the season and the ninth of her career, while matching a career best with seven blocks … Minato scored in double figures for the 105th straight game, while Oertner did so for the sixth contest in a row.