Women’s Basketball Advances to Championship Game

Friday, March 11

West Point, N.Y.

5 PM

Army West Point

28-2

Lehigh (Semifinals)

18-13

Lehigh

Army West Point

Women’s Basketball Advances to Championship Game

March 11, 2016 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Three players reached double figures to help the top-seeded Army West Point women's basketball team to a 76-46 victory over No. 4 Lehigh in the Patriot League semifinals on Friday evening at Christl Arena.

Army wins its 18th straight to improve to 28-2 on the year, while Lehigh ends its season, 18-13.

The Black Knights led by 10 at halftime before using a 26-6 third quarter to pull away for the eventual 30-point victory. Army forced Lehigh into 21 turnovers and was plus-15 in points off turnovers in the contest.

Senior Kelsey Minato led all scorers with 21 points on 8-for-16 shooting, including a 5-for-9 effort from beyond the arc. Classmate Aimee Oertner scored 18 points, all in the first half, pulled down five rebounds and handed out a game-high five assists. Sophomore Janae McNeal added 10 points, five rebounds and four assists in the win.

Quinci Mann paced Lehigh with 15 points, while Lexi Martins chipped in 13 points and six rebounds.

Army made its first seven shots to begin the game, as it controlled an early 14-10 advantage with 4:48 remaining in the first quarter. The Black Knights went on to score on each of their first nine trips down the floor, as McNeal and Oertner led the way with six points apiece to start the game.

Lehigh led briefly in the opening quarter, with a 3-0 lead to start the game and held advantages of 8-6 and 10-8 at the 7:21 and 6:33 marks, respectively. The hosts controlled a lead of as many as six points in the opening frame before taking a four-point advantage, 23-19, into the second quarter.

Oertner netted the first six points of to begin the second period, as part of a personal 8-2 run to start the frame. The 8-2 scoring run left Army with a 31-21 lead 4:46 into the quarter.

The Black Knights' margin alternated from eight points to 10 points over the next several possessions, as the hosts took a 41-31 lead into the halftime break.

Army opened the third quarter on a 17-2 run before going on to outscore Lehigh, 26-6, during the third frame. The Black Knights were successful on all seven of their attempts from three-point range during the period, including four triples from Minato, two from senior Jean Parker and one from senior Brianna Johnson.

Army limited the Mountain Hawks to 1-of-10 shooting in the third frame to stretch its lead to 30, 67-37, by the end of the quarter.

"I can't say enough about this team," said head coach Dave Magarity. "It's remarkable what we were able to do with how good Lehigh is. Whether it's the way we play or the matchup, I was blown away by that third quarter and our level of intensity and defensive focus. Aliyah Murray was phenomenal for us defensively."

Both teams struggled in the fourth period, with each side totaling nine points during the fourth.

Army hosts the winner of Friday's second semifinal contest between No. 2 Bucknell and No. 3 Loyola in the Patriot League championship tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Christl Arena. Saturday's title game will be televised on CBS Sports Network, with the winner earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Tickets to the Patriot League championship contest can be purchased at GoArmyWestPoint.com/Tickets.

GAME NOTES: Army advances to the Patriot League title game for the fifth time in team history, last doing so in 2014 … the Black Knights improve to 5-1 as the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament … three Army players scored in double figures for the second game in a row … Army improves to 31-30 all-time versus Lehigh and 4-4 against the Mountain Hawks in the Patriot League Tournament.