American Rallies Late to Top Army in OT, 71-63

Saturday, February 3

Washington, D.C.

2 PM

Army West Point

11-11, 4-7PL

American

18-4, 11-0PL

OT 1

Army

American

American Rallies Late to Top Army in OT, 71-63

February 03, 2018 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Army West Point women's basketball team saw a late eight-point lead in regulation slip away as American went on a 10-2 run before going on to claim a 71-63 Patriot League overtime victory at Bender Arena on Saturday afternoon.

For the first time this season, the Black Knights (11-11, 5-6 Patriot League) had a pair of Cadets reach the 20-point mark in the same game as Janae McNeal and Madison Hovren combined for 49 points. McNeal posted a stellar outing with a career-high 28 points on 11-of-21 shooting to go with nine rebounds and a team-best six assists.

Hovren shot 50 percent from the field and capped her afternoon with a double-double performance, totaling 21 points and 10 rebounds. Morgann Yancey added nine points in the scoring column with a trio of makes from long range against the Eagles (18-4, 11-0 Patriot League).

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Army had two Cadets reach 20 or more points in a single game for the first time since Jan. 18, 2015 against Bucknell. (Kelsey Minato 25, Daizjah Morris 22).
Hovren became just the eighth Cadet in program history to record at least 1,000 points and 600 rebounds in her career.
She is only the 15th Cadet all-time in program history to tally 600 career boards.
She passed Pam Pearson '85 for 16th in all-time scoring with 1,031 points.
The Spokane, Wash., native recorded her 30th career double-double and 14th of the season.
McNeal's 11 makes from the field was a career-high
Her six assists marked the 15th time in her career that she had at least five in a single game.
It was the first time since Hovren scored 28 against Loyola on Feb. 4, 2017, that a Cadet scored 28 or more points in a game.
Margaret Anne Hubbell made her first career start and pulled down six rebounds, tying her career high.
Army's defense held American's top scorer, Emily Kinneston, who also ranks sixth in the league, scoreless for 23:44.
Yancey knocked down multiple 3-pointers in her fourth straight game and has made at least one in each of her last six appearances.
It was the first time this season that Army lost when shooting over 40 percent from the field.
Daizjah Morris appeared in her 100th career game.
Army is 0-2 in overtime games this season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

American could not buy a basket in the opening quarter, going 0-for-15 from the field over an 8:40 span. During that stretch, Army held a 6-0 lead with four points coming off of Hovren jumpers. Despite American finally getting on the board, the Black Knights responded with a 3-point make by Yancey to go ahead 9-2.
Army took an 11-6 advantage into the second frame and with 3:40 remaining, led 18-10 as the Eagles continued to struggle from the field. After missing her first two shots of the quarter, McNeal closed out the half on a strong note. The senior scored eight points in the final 2:40 on 4-of-4 shooting. However, American was able to keep the game within single digits with a pair of 3-pointers and the two teams went into the break with the Cadets on top, 26-17.
The nine-point deficit at the half marked the second time in the Patriot League season that the Eagles were trailing at the break.
The Black Knights opened the new half by connecting on three of their first five tries from the field to extend the lead to double-digits for the first time of the afternoon, 33-21. With 6:16 on the clock, Kinneston scored inside and was fouled. She converted the three-point play and the lead was back within single digits, but Yancey came up with a timely 3-pointer from the corner.
Past the midway point of the third, American began to gain momentum and went on a 13-3 run to make it a two-point game, 41-39.
The Eagles' run extended into the final frame and American took its first lead of the game after four unanswered points. Army countered with a 12-2 run and went ahead 53-45 with 4:33 left to play.
A Cecily Carl jumper with 2:41 remaining sparked the Eagles' 10-2 run that ultimately tied the game up at 55. Army held onto the ball with 25 seconds on the clock and settled for the final shot. McNeal got a quality look at the basket, but the ball rolled off the rim and the game was headed into overtime.
Over the first 3:41 of the overtime period, American jumped ahead 64-58 after a 9-3 run. From that point forward, the Eagles iced the game at the foul line and remained unbeaten in league play.

UP NEXT

The Black Knights will return to West Point for a pair of games at Christl Arena next week beginning with a Patriot League matchup against Lafayette on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Army will then host Navy for the annual Star Game on Saturday at 11 a.m. on CBS Sports Network.