WASHINGTON – The American University women's basketball team will be heading up to West Point to take on Army on Sunday, Jan. 14. The squad hopes to remain undefeated in the league after starting 2024, and the conference season, 3-0 with wins over Lehigh, Bucknell, and Boston University. Tip-off between the Eagles and the Black Knights is set for 2 p.m.
QUICK INFO
- Date/Time: Sunday, Jan. 14; 2 p.m.
- Site: West Point, N.Y. (Christl Arena)
- Series History: American leads, 27-21
- TV: ESPN+
INSIDE THE SERIES
- The Eagles and the Black Knights have a series history that tips American's way with a 27-21 record.
- Army has a 3-2 lead over American in recent years, including having swept American in the regular season in 2023. In the first meeting, the Eagles fell almost 20 points, dropping 56-77 to the visitors. In West Point for the rematch though, American almost found the upset but again fell, this time by one, 62-63.
- In that most recent contest away at West Point, the Eagles were led by Ivy Bales whose double-double performance brought the game into the fight it was after American trailed by nine at the half. Bales finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds as well as three assists, three steals, and one block.
- Lauren Stack followed up Bales offensively with her nine points. She also grabbed five rebounds along with a steal and a block. On the defensive end, Molly Lavin followed up Bales with seven rebounds. She also had five points.
- The Black Knights were led by Sabria Hunter, their leading scorer last season, with 18 points. Hunter also led on the boards with 14 rebounds. Lauren Lithgow had 10 points and two steals. Hunter has since graduated, but Lithgow is now a senior and the team's captain.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT AMERICAN
- The Eagles have kicked off 2024 and Patriot League play by going 3-0 with an away win over Lehigh and two home wins over Bucknell and Boston. The most recent contest against BU saw the Eagles fight through double-overtime to grab a 91-87 win.
- Sophomore point guard Laura Nogues has stepped up recently. She went 5-8 from deep to lead the Eagles over the Terriers. She tallied a career-high 24 points. She also had three rebounds and five assists. Nogues is now second on the team in assists with 35.
- Bailey Garbee was clutch in key moments throughout the game, the junior with three triples and a total of 12 points. Five rebounds, two steals, and a block were also on her stat line at the conclusion of the game.
- Emily Johns finished the game with 22 points of her own, matching her season high. The senior forward also had four rebounds and a steal. She went 7-8 from the free throw line as well. Johns currently leads the team in points per game average with 11.6 ppg.
- For the second game in a row, senior Ivy Bales did it all on both sides of the ball. The guard led with four steals and on the glass with nine rebounds. She also dropped nine points. She also had a block and five assists. Bales leads the team in assists (46) and steals (30) and is second in rebounding (4.6 rpg).
- Molly Lavin tied her career high against the Terriers, with 15 points and five rebounds, a steal, and a block. The sophomore forward is leading the team defensively (5.3 rpg) and is third on the team in scoring average (8.1 ppg).
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ARMY WEST POINT
- The Black Knights will be hosting the Eagles after claiming their first win in the Patriot League, a 55-45 win over Loyola Md. Army opened with a home loss to Lafayette (42-68) and an away loss to Holy Cross (52-67).
- Freshman Kya Smith and junior Trinity Hardy led the way in scoring and rebounds when Army took on Loyola. Smith tallied her third double-double of the season boasting a team-leading 14 points and 16 rebounds, while also adding two blocks and two steals.
- Hardy also filled out the stat sheet as she dropped 12 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Smith is the team leader so far in scoring this season (10.7 ppg) while Hardy is second with an average of 10.5 ppg. Smith also leads the team in rebounding (8.1 rpg) and Hardy follows with an average of 5.2 boards per game.
- Army kept Loyola to just 30% from the field and the Greyhounds struggled from distance, going 0-11 from beyond the arc while the Black Knights managed to shoot 52% from the field and 33% from deep.
- While Loyola managed to keep their turnovers low, losing the ball 12 times to Army's 17, the Black Knights scored 17 points off turnovers while the Greyhounds scored eight. It was a strong first half that helped Army outlast the potential push back from Loyola in the second half.
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