WEST POINT, N.Y. (Interstat) — Navy rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to edge Army 54-51 in a defensive struggle Saturday at Christl Arena. The Midshipmen outscored the Black Knights 31-25 in the second half to secure the season sweep in the Patriot League women’s basketball rivalry. Army led 26-23 at halftime but Navy used an 18-point third quarter to seize control. Both teams struggled offensively, with Navy shooting 38.6% from the floor and Army shooting 37.3%. The Black Knights hit eight 3-pointers but committed 14 turnovers. Julianna Almeida led Navy with 12 points. Reese Ericson scored 13 points for Army. Navy improved to 19-7 overall while Army fell to 21-6.

WEST POINT, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle emblematic of the Patriot League’s fiercest rivalry, the Navy women’s basketball team edged Army 54-51 on Saturday at Christl Arena, sweeping the season series and handing the Black Knights a critical conference defeat. The game, played before an announced crowd of 1, was a stark contrast to the teams’ first meeting in January, which Navy won 60-44. This contest remained a one-possession affair for the final 14 minutes, defined by grinding possessions and crucial defensive stops. Navy improved to 19-7 overall and solidified its position in the league standings, while Army, which entered with a 21-6 record and a 71.4% win probability according to National Statistical’s ELO system, saw its six-game winning streak snapped. The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final 30 seconds with Navy clinging to a 48-46 lead. After Army’ Camryn Tade missed a jump shot, Navy’s Morgan Demos secured the defensive rebound and was fouled with 20 seconds remaining. Demos missed the front end of a one-and-one, giving Army a chance to tie or take the lead. Out of a timeout, Army executed a play that found Reese Ericson open for a three-pointer from the wing, which she drained with 14 seconds left, putting the Black Knights ahead 51-48 and sending the home bench into a frenzy. Navy, however, responded immediately. Inbounding the ball, the Midshipmen pushed it upcourt and found Zoe Mesuch, who drove for a layup to cut the deficit to 51-50 with seven seconds remaining. On the ensuing inbounds play, Navy applied full-court pressure, and Julianna Almeida’s tight defense on Ericson forced a held ball, with the possession arrow favoring Navy. With 4.4 seconds on the clock, Navy designed an inbound play for Mesuch. The guard from Clintondale, New York, curled off a screen, received the pass near the elbow, and hit a contested jump shot while being fouled. The shot fell, putting Navy up 52-51. Mesuch calmly sank the free throw to complete the three-point play, extending the lead to 54-51 with 2.2 seconds left. Army’s desperation heave from Ericson at the buzzer was off the mark, sealing a dramatic comeback victory for the visitors. The game’s pivotal final minutes capped a contest where neither team led by more than seven points. Army started strong, using an 8-of-16 performance from three-point range to build a 16-9 lead after the first quarter. Navy chipped away, leveraging its defense to generate 18 points off 14 Army turnovers. The Midshipmen took their first lead late in the third quarter and never trailed again until Ericson’s late three-pointer. Navy’s defense was the cornerstone of the win. Despite shooting just 38.6% from the field, the Midshipmen held Army to 37.3% shooting and dominated inside, outscoring the Black Knights 30-22 in the paint. Navy also recorded 11 steals and four blocks. Zoe Mesuch led all scorers with 14 points for Navy, including the game-winning three-point play. Julianna Almeida added 12 points, five rebounds and three assists. Morgan Demos contributed eight points, six rebounds and four assists, while Zanai Barnett-Gay anchored the defense with nine rebounds, two assists and a block. For Army, Reese Ericson scored 13 points, all in the second half, including the late go-ahead three. Camryn Tade filled the stat sheet with 11 points, five rebounds and six assists. Brooke Wilson and Reganne Reardon each added 10 points. The victory gives Navy momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season, with games at Colgate and home against Loyola Maryland upcoming. Army, now facing increased competition for playoff positioning, will host Lafayette before traveling to Bucknell.

WEST POINT, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Patriot League’s top two women’s basketball teams will renew one of sports’ most storied rivalries Saturday when the Army Black Knights host the Navy Midshipmen at Christl Arena. Army (21-5 overall), which sits atop the conference standings, seeks to avenge a 60-44 road loss to Navy on Jan. 24 and protect its home court. The Black Knights have won five of their last six games, most recently a 61-48 victory over Loyola Maryland on Wednesday. Guard Kya Smith, who leads a balanced Army attack, posted 14 points and five assists in that win. In the first meeting with Navy, Smith was held to six points. Navy (18-7) arrives looking to rebound from a 75-64 road loss at Lehigh on Wednesday that snapped a seven-game winning streak. That streak was ignited by their decisive win over Army last month. The Midshipmen are led by dynamic guard Zanai Barnett-Gay, who scored 13 points and dished five assists in the January victory over the Black Knights. She is averaging 15.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists over her last eight games. The matchup features a contrast in recent momentum. Army has been dominant at home, while Navy aims to recapture its form from a month-long surge. The Black Knights’ defense, which allows a league-low 54.2 points per game, will be tested by Navy’s up-tempo offense. Saturday’s result will have significant implications for the Patriot League tournament seeding with just two weeks remaining in the regular season. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. EST.