Army Women’s Basketball Stages Relentless Comeback to Defeat St. Thomas, 67-61

ST. PAUL, MN- Down 10 points in the third quarter on the road, the Army West Point women’s basketball team refused to quit. Behind a suffocating defensive effort and a game-changing 17-0 run, the Black Knights stormed back to defeat St. Thomas, 67-61, in the grand opening of the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena on Saturday afternoon.

The victory marked head coach Katie Kuester’s first win over a Division I opponent and improved Army to 2-0 for the first time since the 2015-16 season. It was a statement win that showcased the mental toughness, discipline, and relentless spirit that define this Black Knights squad.

A Game of Runs and Resilience

The first half belonged to St. Thomas. The Tommies shot 50 percent from the field and dominated at the free-throw line, going 14-17 to take a 35-30 lead into halftime. Army struggled from beyond the arc (2-9) and was outscored 18-11 in the second quarter as St. Thomas seized momentum.

The third quarter looked even bleaker for the Black Knights. St. Thomas extended its lead to 12 points with under three minutes remaining in the period, and the game appeared to be slipping away.

But Army had other plans.

The Turning Point: A 17-0 Run

With 2:44 left in the third quarter, Reganne Reardon ignited the comeback with a clutch three-pointer. That sparked a ferocious 17-0 run that spanned the final minutes of the third quarter and the opening minutes of the fourth.

Taylor Wilson took over in the fourth, draining back-to-back three-pointers to give Army a 59-53 lead with 6:43 remaining. The Black Knights’ defense clamped down, holding St. Thomas scoreless for over four minutes during the decisive stretch.

“Just that we’re relentless. I mean, I told those girls in there, I choose them any day, and it’s the truth. Down 10 on the road against a really good St. Thomas team, you could just see our huddles got tighter. We got more connected. Our will was just instilled on them on both ends of the floor, and just proud of them. Never count Army out. Never count Army out.“ – Head Coach Katie Kuester

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Discipline Under Pressure

One of the most remarkable aspects of Army’s comeback was the team’s discipline in the fourth quarter. After battling foul trouble throughout the first three quarters, the Black Knights committed just one team foul in the final 10 minutes, allowing them to play aggressive defense without sending St. Thomas to the free-throw line.

“Super disciplined. I know my dad’s watching that game being like, why did you keep them in with three fouls? But there’s a trust factor, you know what I mean? And you have to be able to be able to play with fouls and in foul trouble, and they showed that they can in moments. Obviously, I think it was in the fourth quarter; we only had one team foul. I looked up at the board, and I was like, we have one team foul. It’s about time. So just really proud of them just fighting through it. Because fouls are such a frustrating thing, too, it can be so emotional. So, just really proud of them for pushing through that frustration and just sticking together.“ – Head Coach Katie Kuester

Army held St. Thomas to just 30.8 percent shooting in the fourth quarter and outscored the Tommies 19-10 in the final frame to seal the comeback victory.

Player-Led Leadership

In a critical moment during the third quarter, with Army trailing by double digits, the Black Knights called a timeout. Before the coaches could reach the huddle, Reese Ericson took charge, rallying her teammates and delivering a message of belief and determination.

“Yeah, just a lot of trust. I mean, I tell those girls I trust them through and through. And my best teams I’ve ever coached are the self-led teams. Obviously, the five of us as the coaches are always gonna be tactically doing offense and defense and different schemes and things. But when you get in the huddle and it’s a player-only huddle and they’re able to be constructive, and people are able to listen and do. I think that’s when you have championship caliber teams, so we’re just lucky that we have that group.“ – Head Coach Katie Kuester

Ericson finished with 12 points, four assists, two steals, and two blocks, but her leadership in that moment may have been her most important contribution of the night.

Kya Smith Dominates Inside

Junior forward Kya Smith was a force all night, recording her 10th career double-double with a game-high 20 points and 11 rebounds. Smith was efficient and relentless, shooting 8-13 from the field and 4-5 from the free-throw line. She also added three assists, two blocks, and a steal.

Smith’s dominance in the paint was constant throughout the game. She scored in every quarter and was particularly effective in the second half, when Army needed her most. Her 11 rebounds led all players, and she was the only player in the game to reach double figures on the boards.

Smith’s performance was a masterclass in consistency and toughness, and she was a game-high +11 in plus/minus.

Taylor Wilson Catches Fire

Taylor Wilson was the spark Army needed in the fourth quarter. The junior guard scored 11 points, including three crucial three-pointers—two of which came during the game-changing 17-0 run. Wilson finished 4-7 from the field and 3-4 from beyond the arc, and her shooting was the difference-maker down the stretch.

Wilson’s shooting improvement has been a product of relentless work in the gym.

“You know what, that kid’s in the gym. I give a lot of credit to Mary Sheehan, one of our assistant coaches, who I lived in the gym with when she was my player. And now just seeing that given back, that kid’s shooting in the gym at least two to three times extra a week, which is a lot at a place like Army. You hear two to three times, you’re like, my gosh, where do they find the time? But she’s been relentlessly approaching those reps. And just, I tell her all the time, I’ll never tell you to stop shooting; I’ll never tell you to stop shooting. So she knows, next rep, next opportunity. And I’m proud of her that her time has come.“ – Head Coach Katie Kuester

Wilson was a game-high +13 in plus/minus, the best mark of any player on either team.

Reese Ericson Seals the Victory

With 18 seconds remaining and Army clinging to a 63-61 lead, Reese Ericson came up with a game-sealing steal and took it coast-to-coast for a layup, extending the lead to 65-61. She then calmly sank two free throws to push the lead to six and put the game out of reach.

Ericson finished with 12 points on 4-7 shooting, including 2-4 from three-point range. She also added four assists, two steals, and two blocks in a complete all-around performance.

Bench Contributions and Balanced Attack

Army’s balanced attack was key to the victory. Reganne Reardon provided a spark off the bench with seven points, including a critical three-pointer that started the 17-0 run. Brooke Wilson and Camryn Tade each dished out four assists, orchestrating the offense and keeping the ball moving.

Army’s bench outscored St. Thomas’ bench 13-10, and the Black Knights dominated in second-chance points (16-7) and fast break points (7-2). Army also won the rebounding battle 33-29.

Statistical Breakdown

Army Shooting:

• FG: 26-55 (47.3%)
• 3PT: 8-17 (47.1%)
• FT: 7-14 (50.0%)

St. Thomas Shooting:

• FG: 21-46 (45.7%)
• 3PT: 1-7 (14.3%)
• FT: 18-26 (69.2%)

Key Stats:

• Rebounds: Army 33, St. Thomas 29
• Assists: Army 17, St. Thomas 12
• Turnovers: Army 15, St. Thomas 14
• Steals: Army 7, St. Thomas 6
• Blocks: Army 8, St. Thomas 3
• Second-Chance Points: Army 16, St. Thomas 7
• Fast Break Points: Army 7, St. Thomas 2
• Bench Points: Army 13, St. Thomas 10

A Historic Night in St. Paul

The victory came on a special night for St. Thomas, as the Tommies opened the brand-new Lee & Penny Anderson Arena. The Black Knights were honored to be part of the historic occasion.

“Yeah, it’s historical. It’s historical. People like Lee and Penny who are so selfless and just so proud to represent West Point and that we can be a part of it. A special place like St. Thomas as well that he’s just poured his heart into along with West Point. And I met him for the first time last night, and I was thinking about it all night, how special that is, how impactful that is for our girls. And yeah, we’re just fortunate to be here, obviously, and be able to open up the arena with a dub Army’s way. The post-game Olive Garden gonna taste pretty good; those breadsticks after a win, come on now, come on.“ – Head Coach Katie Kuester

Up Next

Army returns to Christl Arena on Thursday, November 13, to host Siena College. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. on ESPN+.

Game Notables

• Saturday’s win was Katie Kuester’s first victory over a Division I opponent as a head coach, improving her career record to 2-0.
• The Black Knights opened the season 2-0 for the first time since 2015-16.
• Kya Smith recorded her 10th career double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
• Kya Smith (20), Reese Ericson (12), and Taylor Wilson (11) all scored in double figures for the second straight game.
• Taylor Wilson scored in double figures in back-to-back games for just the second time in her career.
• Army dominated in second-chance points (16-7), fast break points (7-2), and bench points (13-10).
• Taylor Wilson was a game-high +13 in plus/minus.
• The Black Knights committed just one team foul in the fourth quarter, showcasing elite discipline under pressure.

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