Black Knights Splash 15 Three's in Season Opening Win vs. Emmanuel

Monday, November 7

West Point, NY

5:00 PM

Army West Point

1-0,0-0Patriot

Emmanuel College (Mass.)

0-0,0-0Great Northeast

Emmanuel (MA)

Army West Point

Black Knights Splash 15 Three's in Season Opening Win vs. Emmanuel

November 07, 2022 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Army West Point women's basketball team (1-0, 0-0) kicked off their season and home opener with a 77-53 win against Emmanuel College (0-1, 0-0). The Black Knights came out firing as they set a program record of 15 made three-pointers, breaking the previous high (14) which was set in the 2019-20 season.

How It Happened
In a contest that Army dominated, the Black Knights had three cadets reach double digit figures in scoring, Sabria Hunter with 18, Freshman Reese Ericson (18), and Lauren Lithgow with 15 points.

Sam McNaughton acted first to get Army on the board. Lauren Lithgow followed suit making a three-pointer giving the Black Knights a 5-4 lead. Army and Emmanuel went back and forth in scoring, until Saints' Allison Wild tied things up with a lay-up. Emmanuel's Angelina Giordano gave them a 14-11 lead with a 3-pointer. Army's Lauren Lithgow fired back making her second three-point basket of the quarter, giving Army a 16-14 lead. The Black Knights ultimately finished the first quarter with a 16-15 lead, Sabria Hunter and Lithgow both with six points.

In the second quarter, Army continued where they left off with Lithgow firing off a 3-point bucket. Freshman Reese Ericson also saw success in the second quarter, firing off her first three point make of her career giving the Black Knights their largest lead of the game. Ericson was on fire in the second quarter, connecting again from three from an asssit from Freshman Charlotte Richman to give Army 29-17 lead. Richman and Julianna Laguna had their first baskets of the season, both shooting off 3-pointers, further extending the Black Knights lead. Emmanuel's Yannie Chan ended Army's scoring run with a layup making the score 38-25 to conclude the first half. Emmanuel scored 14 points in the paint to Army's 10.

Army started the second half firing on all cylinders. 10 seconds into the third quarter, Ericson drilled another three-point basket, extending it's lead. Army continued the attack; at the 6-minute mark when Lithgow made another three-point basket extending the Army lead, 50-31.

In the fourth quarter Army further extended it's lead when Sabria Hunter connected on a layup, after making two free throws. With seven minutes left in the game, Richman again connected with Ericson who splahed another 3-pointer further extending Army's lead 64-43. With six minutes left, Hunter made an easy layup, giving the Black Knights a 23-point lead. At the 4:26 mark, Emmanuel's Caitlin Barker answered back with a three-pointer, assisted by Yannie Chan. With 2:10 left on the clock, Laguna answered back with a three-pointer as Army cruised to the victory.

Inside the Box

The Black Knights made 15 three pointers, a new program record.
Army shot 15-45 (33.33%) from three-point land.
Sabria Hunter led the Black Knights with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Hunter had her third straight double-double dating back to the final home game of the season last year and her 17th of her career.
Freshman Charlotte Richman led Army with four assists. She also connected on three three-pointers to score nine points.
Freshman Reese Ericson finished with 18 points (4-7 from three) and four assists in her college debut.
Lauren Lithgow had 15 points and one assist, shooting 5-12 from three.
Three freshman scored the first points of their careers.

Coach's Corner
"I thought we let the ball fly and that's a big part of our offense. We need to do a better job of balancing that off with getting the ball inside to Sabria (Hunter). I didn't think we had balance in the first half. I thought we did a better job in the second half. But I love that we took 16 free throws and attacked. We were 12-16 from the free-throw line and we won the rebounding war. Sabria's stat line is really impressive to me, 13 rebounds, 18 points, 2 assists, 4 steals, she really did it all; and that's what she has to do, she has to impose her will, and I thought she was tremendous tonight. And I can't say enough about our shooters, they have been putting in extra work especially Lauren Lithgow, who rattled off five threes tonight. I'm really proud of her, she deserves that." -- Head Coach Missy Traversi

Up Next
The Black Knights will go on the road to face Binghamton University on Thursday, November 10 at 7 p.m.

For complete coverage of Army West Point women's basketball, follow the Black Knights on Twitter @ArmyWP_WBB, on Instagram @armywestpointwbb, and online at www.goarmywestpoint.com.