Army West Point Athletics
Saturday, December 6
West Point, N.Y.
12 p.m.
Army West Point
7-2,0-0Patriot
64
vs
61
UMass
7-1,0-0MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Massachusetts
18
11
13
19
61
Army West Point
15
12
16
21
64
Women’s Basketball Records Crucial Home Win Over Massachusetts
December 06, 2025 | Women's Basketball
WEST POINT, N.Y. – It was a battle for all 40 minutes on Saturday afternoon, but the Army West Point women's basketball team hit big shots late to take down Massachusetts, 64-61, at Christl Arena.
Army (7-2) caught fire offensively in the fourth quarter and came up with big defensive stops to give UMass (7-1) its first loss of the season. Entering Saturday's game, UMass was No. 56 in the NET Rankings and No. 10 in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25.
The Black Knights led by three with less than 10 seconds to go and forced an errant three by the Minutewomen to seal the win and remain undefeated (4-0) at home this season. The Black Knights seven wins so far are the most by a Patriot League team.
It was truly a back-and-forth affair all game, as neither team led by more than six. The game had 15 lead changes and was tied 10 different times. UMass led by two at the halftime break but couldn't slow down Army late.
Both offenses opened the game slow, as things were tied at 6-6 at the first media timeout. The two sides continued to trade baskets, but Army jumped ahead 12-10 thanks to a three from Soleil Montrose. However, UMass found a grove over the last two minutes of the opening quarter and closed the frame on an 8-3 run to lead 18-15 after 10 minutes.
All five of Army's baskets in the opening quarter were threes, and all five were made by different players. It was Umass' best offensive quarter of the game, as the Minutewomen shot 8-14 from the field.
The second quarter was a battle of the defenses, as the two sides combined to shoot 8-27 from the field and 3-11 from distance. Despite the poor shooting for Army – 23.1 percent – the Black Knights played impressive defense and forced UMass into four turnovers while holding them to 35.7 percent shooting. The Black Knights got six points from Reese Ericson, who made two of Army's three shots –– all threes – in the period. Saturday marked the 100th game of Ericson's collegiate career.
Through 20 minutes, UMass held a 29-27 lead, but it was clear the game was very much up for grab for the Black Knights, who only made one two-point field goal in the first half. Seven of Army's eight made shots came from distance, and all eight of Army's field goals were assisted. Ericson led Army with nine points and three assist in the opening half, while Brooke Wilson. Had seven points. For the first time all season Kya Smith went into the locker room scoreless.
The Army offense was much crisper in the second half, but it took a little bit of time for it to show. The Minutewomen came out strong in the third quarter and took a 36-30 lead into the third quarter media timeout. It was the largest lead of the game for any team. With Army appearing to be on the ropes, the Black Knights had arguably its best stretch of play all afternoon coming out of the timeout. Over the next three minutes, the Black Knights went on a 10-2 run to take a 40-38 lead.
With less than five seconds left in the quarter Camryn Tade hit a huge three to give Army a 43-42 advantage going into the final period of play. Army was 5-11 from the field in the quarter, while UMass shot 5-13.
The final quarter of play was the Kya Smith show, as she scored 15 of her team-high 16 points in the final 10 minutes. She was a perfect 4-4 from the field and 7-7 from the line to help pick up Army's biggest win of the season.
Army led for most of the period, but the Minutewomen took a one-point lead with 5:17 to play. The Black Knights quickly jumped back ahead thanks to a pair of free throws from Smith.
Smith delivered the biggest play of the game with 44 seconds left, as she put together an impressive 3-point play to give the Black Knights a five-point lead. UMass scored on their next possession to cut the deficit to three, but Army came up with the stop at the buzzer it needed to come away with the win.
By the Numbers
Smith led Army in points (16) and rebounds (nine). She has scored 10-plus points in every game this season. Ericson had a strong 12-point performance and is now just 12 points away from becoming the 20th player in program history to reach 1,000 points. Reganne Reardon scored 11 points on 5-8 shooting, which ties her career high.
Army finished the game shooting 41.7 percent from the field. For the third time this season the Black Knights knocked down double digit threes, as they went 10-27 from distance. Army also did a good job of getting to the free throw line, going 14-17. On the other side, UMass shot 43.3 percent but went to the line just seven times.
The Minutewomen led the Black Knights in points in the paint (32-20) and second chance points (9-8). Army had the edge in points off turnovers (20-16), fast break points (6-2) and bench points (16-14).
Army assisted 16 of its 20 shots, with Ericson and Tade having five each. UMass outrebounded the Black Knights 33-31. Going into Saturday, Army was 0-2 when losing the rebounding battle.
Quotable – Head Coach Katie Kuester
"Yeah, just such a gritty win. [UMass] is a really good team, and it was our day. We were gritty, we were tough. We were extremely detail oriented in our scout and our defensive approach, and then offensively, we just hit big shots and big moments. Had big assists in big moments. And just, you know, proud of our girls as a collective whole, one through 14, healthy or not, they're so dialed in every day for each other and for being there for each other and just having a will to win every day. That showed today. So just very proud."
Up Next
The Black Knights return to the court on Tuesday night in Ithaca, N.Y., to battle against Cornell. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. at Newman Arena with the game being broadcast on ESPN+.
Game 9 Notables
• Army moves to 4-0 at home this season.
• Army is undefeated when holding opponents to less than 70 points this season.
• Kya Smith led Army with 16 points and nine rebounds. She has led Army in scoring in six games this season. She has 10-plus points in every game in this season.
• Kya Smith (16), Reese Ericson (12) and Reganne Reardon (11) scored in double-digits.
• Kya Smith had 15 points in the final quarter, the most points she has scored in a quarter in her career.
• Reese Ericson is 12 points away from 1,000 in her career. She would be the 20th player in program history with 1,000 points.
• Reganne Reardon's 11 points tied her career high.
• Army made 10 threes on Saturday afternoon. The Black Knights are 3-0 this season when recording at least 10 buckets from distance.
• Army had 16 assists on 20 made buckets. It's Army's sixth time this season with 15-plus assists in a game.
• Army is now 4-0 all-time against UMass.
Army (7-2) caught fire offensively in the fourth quarter and came up with big defensive stops to give UMass (7-1) its first loss of the season. Entering Saturday's game, UMass was No. 56 in the NET Rankings and No. 10 in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25.
The Black Knights led by three with less than 10 seconds to go and forced an errant three by the Minutewomen to seal the win and remain undefeated (4-0) at home this season. The Black Knights seven wins so far are the most by a Patriot League team.
It was truly a back-and-forth affair all game, as neither team led by more than six. The game had 15 lead changes and was tied 10 different times. UMass led by two at the halftime break but couldn't slow down Army late.
Both offenses opened the game slow, as things were tied at 6-6 at the first media timeout. The two sides continued to trade baskets, but Army jumped ahead 12-10 thanks to a three from Soleil Montrose. However, UMass found a grove over the last two minutes of the opening quarter and closed the frame on an 8-3 run to lead 18-15 after 10 minutes.
All five of Army's baskets in the opening quarter were threes, and all five were made by different players. It was Umass' best offensive quarter of the game, as the Minutewomen shot 8-14 from the field.
The second quarter was a battle of the defenses, as the two sides combined to shoot 8-27 from the field and 3-11 from distance. Despite the poor shooting for Army – 23.1 percent – the Black Knights played impressive defense and forced UMass into four turnovers while holding them to 35.7 percent shooting. The Black Knights got six points from Reese Ericson, who made two of Army's three shots –– all threes – in the period. Saturday marked the 100th game of Ericson's collegiate career.
Through 20 minutes, UMass held a 29-27 lead, but it was clear the game was very much up for grab for the Black Knights, who only made one two-point field goal in the first half. Seven of Army's eight made shots came from distance, and all eight of Army's field goals were assisted. Ericson led Army with nine points and three assist in the opening half, while Brooke Wilson. Had seven points. For the first time all season Kya Smith went into the locker room scoreless.
The Army offense was much crisper in the second half, but it took a little bit of time for it to show. The Minutewomen came out strong in the third quarter and took a 36-30 lead into the third quarter media timeout. It was the largest lead of the game for any team. With Army appearing to be on the ropes, the Black Knights had arguably its best stretch of play all afternoon coming out of the timeout. Over the next three minutes, the Black Knights went on a 10-2 run to take a 40-38 lead.
With less than five seconds left in the quarter Camryn Tade hit a huge three to give Army a 43-42 advantage going into the final period of play. Army was 5-11 from the field in the quarter, while UMass shot 5-13.
The final quarter of play was the Kya Smith show, as she scored 15 of her team-high 16 points in the final 10 minutes. She was a perfect 4-4 from the field and 7-7 from the line to help pick up Army's biggest win of the season.
Army led for most of the period, but the Minutewomen took a one-point lead with 5:17 to play. The Black Knights quickly jumped back ahead thanks to a pair of free throws from Smith.
Smith delivered the biggest play of the game with 44 seconds left, as she put together an impressive 3-point play to give the Black Knights a five-point lead. UMass scored on their next possession to cut the deficit to three, but Army came up with the stop at the buzzer it needed to come away with the win.
By the Numbers
Smith led Army in points (16) and rebounds (nine). She has scored 10-plus points in every game this season. Ericson had a strong 12-point performance and is now just 12 points away from becoming the 20th player in program history to reach 1,000 points. Reganne Reardon scored 11 points on 5-8 shooting, which ties her career high.
Army finished the game shooting 41.7 percent from the field. For the third time this season the Black Knights knocked down double digit threes, as they went 10-27 from distance. Army also did a good job of getting to the free throw line, going 14-17. On the other side, UMass shot 43.3 percent but went to the line just seven times.
The Minutewomen led the Black Knights in points in the paint (32-20) and second chance points (9-8). Army had the edge in points off turnovers (20-16), fast break points (6-2) and bench points (16-14).
Army assisted 16 of its 20 shots, with Ericson and Tade having five each. UMass outrebounded the Black Knights 33-31. Going into Saturday, Army was 0-2 when losing the rebounding battle.
Quotable – Head Coach Katie Kuester
"Yeah, just such a gritty win. [UMass] is a really good team, and it was our day. We were gritty, we were tough. We were extremely detail oriented in our scout and our defensive approach, and then offensively, we just hit big shots and big moments. Had big assists in big moments. And just, you know, proud of our girls as a collective whole, one through 14, healthy or not, they're so dialed in every day for each other and for being there for each other and just having a will to win every day. That showed today. So just very proud."
Up Next
The Black Knights return to the court on Tuesday night in Ithaca, N.Y., to battle against Cornell. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. at Newman Arena with the game being broadcast on ESPN+.
Game 9 Notables
• Army moves to 4-0 at home this season.
• Army is undefeated when holding opponents to less than 70 points this season.
• Kya Smith led Army with 16 points and nine rebounds. She has led Army in scoring in six games this season. She has 10-plus points in every game in this season.
• Kya Smith (16), Reese Ericson (12) and Reganne Reardon (11) scored in double-digits.
• Kya Smith had 15 points in the final quarter, the most points she has scored in a quarter in her career.
• Reese Ericson is 12 points away from 1,000 in her career. She would be the 20th player in program history with 1,000 points.
• Reganne Reardon's 11 points tied her career high.
• Army made 10 threes on Saturday afternoon. The Black Knights are 3-0 this season when recording at least 10 buckets from distance.
• Army had 16 assists on 20 made buckets. It's Army's sixth time this season with 15-plus assists in a game.
• Army is now 4-0 all-time against UMass.
Team Stats
UMass
ARM
FG%
.433
.417
3FG%
.267
.370
FT%
.714
.824
RB
33
31
TO
14
16
STL
8
8
Game Leaders
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Women's BasketballForward
/ Women's BasketballGuard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketballvs. Wagner
Saturday, December 08