The Army West Point Women’s Basketball team (24-6) earned a spot in the Patriot League Championship game, defeating the Bucknell Bison (17-14), 49-39 on March 13 in the semifinal at Christl Arena.
With the win, the Army reached the championship game for the first time since 2016. Army is seeking its fourth Patriot League title, the first since its last appearance in 2016. Army will face No. 1 seeded Lehigh in the Championship game on March 16 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The game will tip off at noon and will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
500 cadets poured into Christl Arena on March 13 to support the Army Women’s Basketball team. The plebes had to remain on post until March 14 before being dismissed for spring break, and they proved a huge advantage, being loud and bringing the energy all night long.
CDT Trinity Hardy ’25 scored a game-high 16 points to lead the Black Knights attack. Hardy got started quickly, scoring Army’s first four points on driving layups, scoring six points in the opening 10 minutes.
Bucknell took an early 13-8 lead as senior guard Sophia Sabino hit a three-pointer with three minutes remaining in the first quarter. From then on, Army responded with a 16-4 run to close the half with stellar defensive play.
The Black Knights remained relentless on the glass, finishing the first half by out-rebounding Bucknell by 10 (23-13). The rebounding led Army to outscore the Bison, 10-2, on second-chance points.
Army’s defense was lights out in the second quarter, limiting the Bison to just four points on 2-9 shooting.
Army’s big three trio of all-conference performers CDTs Reese Ericson ’26, Trinity Hardy ’25, and Fiona Hastick ’27 combined to score 23 of Army’s 24 points in the first half. Ericson made both of her three-point makes in the game in the second quarter. Army took a 24-17 lead into halftime.
Bucknell fought hard in the second half, but Army got a clutch bucket when it was needed. CDT Camryn Tade ’28 made a three to push the lead back to double digits, 41-31 at about the midway point of the fourth quarter.
The Bison were led by Patriot League Player of the Year Ashley Sofilkanich, who scored a team-high 13 points.
With under a minute left, Bucknell had Army’s lead down to only five, 44-39 but the Black Knights would make 5-of-6 foul shots down the stretch to close out the game, 49-39.
Army’s CDT Kya Smith ’28 logged nine rebounds, six of which came on the offensive glass.
Hardy, who scored 16 points, and Ericson, who scored 12 points, were the two Black Knights in double figures.
March 13’s game at Christl Arena marked the first time since 2016 that Army hosted a Patriot League semifinal game.
The excerpt and image were taken from https://goarmywestpoint.com.
