Black Knights Outlast Loyola, 72-65; Advance to Quarterfinals

Saturday, March 7

Baltimore, MD

5 PM

Army West Point

9-21

Loyola

8-22

Army West Point

Loyola Maryland

Black Knights Outlast Loyola, 72-65; Advance to Quarterfinals

March 07, 2020 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BALTIMORE – Despite eighth-seeded Loyola staging numerous comeback attempts, the ninth-seeded Army West Point women's basketball team never lost its lead in the first round of the Patriot League Tournament. The Black Knights (9-21) topped the Greyhounds (8-22), 72-65, to pick up their first road win since their double overtime triumph over Fairleigh Dickinson on Nov. 30.

On four separate occasions in the second half, the Greyhounds whittled Army's lead down to two points, but the Black Knights had the answer each time.

Army had four players finish with double-figures in scoring. Natalie Stralkus' 16 points was a team-high, Morgann Yancey and Sarah Bohn each had 12 and Hope Brown finished with 11. Each member of the Black Knights that saw the floor registered at least five points. As a team, the Cadets shot 45.3 percent from the field.

Loyola had a trio of the double-digit scorers led by All-Patriot League First Team selection, Stephanie Karcz, who finished a steal shy of a triple-double. In addition to her nine takeaways, Karcz contributed 14 points and 15 rebounds. Hannah Niles was the Greyhounds' leading scorer with 16 points, while Alexis Gray notched 13.

ARMY NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS

The Cadets have won four of their last six games.
Alisa Fallon tied her career high with 15 boards. This marked her fifth double-digit rebounding game of the season.
Stralkus posted her third consecutive double-digit scoring game. She's reached double figures in five of her last six games.
Yancey matched her season high with four 3-pointers. She previously hit four treys in the earlier matchup between the two schools at Reitz Arena on Jan. 18.
This was Yancey's second double-digit scoring effort of the season.
Brown and Bohn scored in double figures for the 10th time this season.
Seven of Brown's points came in the fourth quarter.
Bohn was a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe.
Army has hit at least eight 3-balls in seven of its last eight games.
The Black Knights are 2-0 all-time against Loyola in the Patriot League Tournament.
Army is 6-1 this season when leading at halftime.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Black Knight came out of the gates on fire. On their first possession, Yancey drilled what would be the first of four Army 3-pointers in the first quarter.
The Cadets held a 14-2 lead at 5:18 mark, but Loyola outscored Army 11-4 run for the remainder of the first to cut Army's lead to 18-13.
Gray opened the second frame with a jumper to cut Army's lead 18-15.
By the 6:07 mark of the second, the Black Knights built their lead back up to eight points after a backdoor Hope Brown lay-in made the score 27-19.
The Cadets and Greyhounds would exchange baskets for the remainder of the first half, but it was Army's success from 3-point range that helped give it the 38-29 lead at the break. The Black Knights were 8-of-16 from beyond-the-arc in the first half.
After Delany Collins opened the second half with a layup, Army used a 6-0 run to push ahead 44-31 with 6:56 left in the third.
The Greyhounds would use a 10-0 to cut Army's lead to 46-44 with just under two minutes left in the third. Though Army worked its lead up to 50-44 by the end of the quarter.
Less than a minute-and-a-half into the fourth quarter, Loyola again cut the Black Knights lead to two points, but Army countered with a layup from Brown and a trey from Stralkus.
The Cadets held at least a two-possession lead until there was just over two-and-a-half minutes remaining. Karcz connected on a lay-in to make the score 59-57. Though, Brown quickly built Army's lead back to four with a layup.
From there, the Black Knights were able to close out the game and secure the win.