Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
5-1,0-0Patriot
New Jersey Institute of Technology
2-4,0-0America East
Women's Basketball Defeats NJIT in Another Overtime Thriller
November 20, 2024 | Women's Basketball
NEWARK, N.J. – The Army West Point women's basketball team (5-1) secured a thrilling 69-68 overtime victory against NJIT (2-4) on Wednesday evening.
Trinity Hardy led the Black Knights with an outstanding performance, posting 22 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals to record Army's first double-double of the season. Camryn Tade followed closely with a season-high 15 points and nine rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Army came out strong in the first, with Reese Ericson draining a three-pointer seconds into the game, capitalizing on an offensive rebound by Fiona Hastick. Trinity Hardy followed with another three-pointer after a turnover, giving Army a quick 7-0 lead. NJIT responded with a driving layup to get on the board, and both teams traded defensive stops before the Highlanders pulled within four. Army maintained control as Hastick and Hardy attacked the rim, but NJIT's Alejandra Zuniga closed the gap with a three-point play. Ericson's three-pointer and Hastick's buzzer-beater step-back jumper gave Army an 18-15 lead heading into the second quarter.
NJIT started aggressively in the second, scoring a driving layup to cut the deficit to one. Ericson hit another three-pointer for Army, but Zuniga dominated the period, scoring in multiple ways, including a fast-break layup and a three-pointer that gave NJIT a 26-22 lead midway through the quarter. Army responded with Hastick's three-pointer and Tade's inside finish, keeping the game close. In the final moments, Hardy scored a crucial second-chance layup, but Zuniga tied it 35-35 with a layup just before halftime.
The third quarter was a defensive battle. Tade opened the scoring with a fast-break layup off a steal, followed by a post move from Kya Smith. NJIT answered with a putback to stay close. Ericson's layup briefly pushed Army ahead, but NJIT chipped away at the lead, taking a 43-41 advantage. Late in the quarter, Tade's clutch jumper tied the game, but NJIT closed with free throws and a layup, holding a 48-44 lead entering the fourth.
Army started the final quarter with determination. Tade and Hardy combined for free throws and a fast-break layup to cut NJIT's lead to one. NJIT extended their lead with a layup, but Army's defensive stops allowed Hastick to tie the game at 54 with just over three minutes remaining. Hardy briefly gave Army the lead with a driving layup, but NJIT reclaimed it with a three-pointer and a free throw. In the final minute, Tade sent the game to overtime with a second-chance layup, tying the score at 59-59.
Overtime was a nail-biter, with both teams trading baskets. Hardy's driving layup gave Army a 65-63 lead, but NJIT answered with a three-pointer. Smith responded with a crucial layup in the paint, briefly giving Army the edge. NJIT quickly regained the lead with a layup, but with just 11 seconds remaining, Smith converted another offensive rebound into a layup to put Army ahead. Hardy's clutch steal in the final moments sealed the 69-68 victory for the Black Knights.
NEXT UP
The Black Knights will travel to UMass on Saturday, November 23rd, to take on the Minutewomen at 1:00 PM.
