West Point, N.Y. – The Army West Point women’s basketball team (2-0) will look to remain undefeated when it hosts the Siena Saints (0-2) on Thursday, November 13, at 6 p.m. at Christl Arena. The Black Knights enter the matchup riding a wave of momentum under first-year head coach Katie Kuester, while Siena searches for its first win of the season under second-year head coach Terry Primm.
Set The Tone
Head coach Katie Kuester has implemented a powerful mantra into every aspect of the Army West Point women’s basketball program: “Set The Tone.”
Whether in the classroom, on the court, or in their daily lives as cadets, this motto drives the Black Knights’ approach to excellence. From the opening tip to the final horn, Army utilizes “Set The Tone” through ferocious defense and high-octane offense—a philosophy that has propelled them to a perfect 2-0 start.
Fighting for the Top Spot
Army was selected second in the Patriot League Preseason Coaches Poll with 68 points, finishing just three points behind Navy (71). The Black Knights received two first-place votes—the same as Navy—while Loyola Maryland led with three first-place votes. This marks the highest Army has been ranked in a preseason poll since the 2017-18 season (tied for first).
The preseason expectations reflect the program’s upward trajectory under Kuester, who brings a fresh perspective while building on the foundation of last season’s 25-8 campaign.
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Undefeated Start: Never Count Army Out
Army has opened the 2025-26 campaign with back-to-back victories, including an 86-50 demolition of Pace in Kuester’s debut and a dramatic 67-61 comeback road win at St. Thomas. The Black Knights have shown no signs of a coaching transition, seamlessly building on last season’s success that ended with a Patriot League championship game appearance and a WNIT victory over Bryant.
The Season Opener: Army controlled the pace from start to finish against Pace, getting double-digit scoring from four players: Taylor Wilson (career-high 20 points), Reese Ericson (18), Kya Smith (14), and Reaganne Reardon (11). The win was highlighted by Army’s 28 assists on 35 made baskets—the second-most assists in a game in the Black Knights’ Division I history. The Black Knights went 14-for-41 from beyond the arc, with Wilson and Ericson each draining six three-pointers.
Kuester became the first Army women’s basketball coach to win her debut game since Maggie Dixon accomplished the feat in 2005-06. Beyond the offensive fireworks, Army’s defensive discipline stood out—the Black Knights finished with just 11 team fouls for the entire game while holding Pace to 50 points.
The Road Comeback: Down 10 points in the third quarter at St. Thomas, Army staged a relentless comeback behind a suffocating defensive effort and a game-changing 17-0 run. The victory marked Kuester’s first win over a Division I opponent and improved Army to 2-0 for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
Freshman Reaganne Reardon ignited the comeback with a clutch three-pointer with 2:44 left in the third quarter. Taylor Wilson took over in the fourth, draining back-to-back three-pointers to give Army a 59-53 lead. The Black Knights held St. Thomas scoreless for over four minutes during the decisive stretch.
Most remarkably, Army committed just one team foul in the fourth quarter, allowing them to play aggressive defense without sending St. Thomas to the free-throw line. The Black Knights held the Tommies to just 30.8 percent shooting in the final frame and outscored them 19-10 to seal the comeback.
“Just that we’re relentless,” Kuester said after the St. Thomas win. “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 in them on both ends of the floor. Never count Army out. Never count Army out.”
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Dominant Statistical Profile
The Black Knights have been nothing short of dominant in the early season, leading the Patriot League in virtually every major statistical category:
- Scoring Offense: 76.5 ppg (1st in Patriot League)
- Scoring Defense: 55.5 ppg (1st in Patriot League)
- Scoring Margin: +21.0 (1st in Patriot League, 96th nationally)
- Assists Per Game: 22.5 (1st in Patriot League, 13th nationally)
- Field Goal Percentage: 48.4% (1st in Patriot League, 52nd nationally)
- Three-Pointers Per Game: 11.0 (1st in Patriot League, 8th nationally)
- Assist/Turnover Ratio: 1.80 (1st in Patriot League, 23rd nationally)
- Rebound Margin: +12.5 (1st in Patriot League, 55th nationally)
Army’s defensive prowess continues a trend from last season, when the Black Knights finished 26th nationally in scoring defense (56.6 ppg) and first in the Patriot League. This year’s 55.5 ppg allowed ranks 104th nationally and once again leads the conference.
The Black Knights also received two votes in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll released on October 27, placing them among the top mid-major programs in the country.
Limitless Range: Reese Ericson
Senior captain Reese Ericson has developed into one of the premier shooters not just in the Patriot League, but in the entire country. The 5-6 guard from Lake Oswego, Ore., is the lone senior on the roster and a proven three-point threat.
Last season, Ericson led the Patriot League with 84 made three-pointers, ranking 23rd nationally. Her 2.63 three-pointers made per game also ranked 23rd in the country and first in the conference. She averaged 10.4 points per game and scored a career-high 332 total points, including 18 double-digit scoring games.
Ericson’s most memorable performance came at Bucknell on February 8, when she buried a career-high 28 points and tied a program single-game record with eight three-pointers made.
But it’s not just her shooting that makes Ericson special. She’s also one of Army’s best distributors, with 73 assists last season—second-highest among returners. Through two games this season, Ericson leads Army with eight made three-pointers and is averaging 15.0 points per game while shooting an absurd 61.5% from beyond the arc.
With 917 career points through 93 games (9.9 ppg), Ericson is within striking distance of joining Army’s prestigious 1,000-point club. She needs just 83 more points to reach the milestone, which would make her the 20th player in program history to achieve the feat. With 190 career three-pointers, Ericson is also building a legacy as one of the greatest shooters in Army history.
In the St. Thomas comeback, Ericson displayed her leadership when she took charge of a timeout huddle before the coaches arrived, rallying her teammates and delivering a message of belief and determination. She finished with 12 points, four assists, two steals, and two blocks, then sealed the victory with a game-clinching steal and coast-to-coast layup with 18 seconds remaining.
Following Thursday’s game, Ericson will have a homecoming when Army travels to Oregon on November 16. Over 60 family members and friends are expected to attend the game in Eugene.
Double-Double Machine: Kya Smith
Junior forward Kya Smith has emerged as Army’s most dominant interior presence and is off to a blistering start this season. Smith leads the team with 17.0 points per game while shooting 66.7% from the field and grabbing 9.5 rebounds per contest.
Last season, Smith started 30 of 31 games and led the team in defensive rebounds (136) and total rebounds (230). She recorded five double-doubles, including two games with 15 rebounds. Her career-high 22 points came against Colgate on January 29, 2025, when she shot 8-10 from the field.
Smith has already recorded the 10th double-double of her career this season, posting 20 points and 11 rebounds in Army’s road win over St. Thomas on November 8. She was efficient and relentless, shooting 8-13 from the field and 4-5 from the free-throw line while adding three assists, two blocks, and a steal. Smith was a game-high +11 in plus/minus and scored in every quarter.
With 451 career rebounds through 61 games (7.4 rpg), Smith is on pace to become one of the most prolific rebounders in recent Army history.
The Sisters: Taylor and Brooke Wilson
The Wilson sisters have been instrumental in Army’s hot start, with both players making significant contributions in different ways.
Taylor Wilson has been the surprise of the season, sitting second on the team in scoring at 15.5 points per game. She opened the season with a career-high 20 points against Pace on 8-14 shooting, then followed with 11 points against St. Thomas—marking just the second time in her career she’s scored 10-plus points in consecutive games. Most impressively, Taylor has opened the season 7-11 from three-point range (63.6%).
Wilson’s shooting improvement has been a product of relentless work in the gym. “That kid’s in the gym,” Kuester said. “I give a lot of credit to Mary Sheehan, one of our assistant coaches. She’s been relentlessly approaching those reps. I tell her all the time, I’ll never tell you to stop shooting. So she knows, next rep, next opportunity. I’m proud of her that her time has come.”
Wilson was a game-high +13 in plus/minus against St. Thomas, the best mark of any player on either team.
Brooke Wilson has gotten off to a tremendous start as a sophomore, leading Army in assists (13) while sitting second in rebounds (14). Her three steals are tied for the most on the team. The sophomore guard is averaging 6.5 assists per game, serving as the primary facilitator in Army’s ball-movement-heavy offense.
In the season opener against Pace, Brooke contributed nine assists in the balanced attack. With 96 career points through 35 games (2.7 ppg), she’s building a solid foundation for the rest of her career.
The Spark Plug: Camryn Tade
Junior guard Camryn Tade is coming off an impressive sophomore campaign in which she started all 33 games and played the second-most minutes among all Black Knights (1,072). She finished second on the team with 48 steals and had 15 multi-steal games.
Throughout the year, Tade set career-highs in points (18), assists (five), rebounds (10), and minutes played (44). She averaged 8.3 points per game with 14 double-digit scoring efforts.
Through two games this season, Tade is averaging 5.0 assists per game, serving as a secondary playmaker alongside Brooke Wilson and helping Army lead the nation in ball movement. With 425 career points through 63 games (6.7 ppg) and 273 career rebounds (4.3 rpg), Tade continues to be a versatile contributor.
Rising Star: Fiona Hastick
Junior Fiona Hastick was voted to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team by the conference’s coaches after an impressive 2024-25 season. Hastick started all 33 games and finished second on the team in scoring with 10.9 points per game.
She scored 10 or more points in 20 games last season, including a season-high 22 points against Bryant in the opening round of the WNIT on March 20. Hastick was equally impressive on defense, leading the team with 22 blocks and recording 11 games with multiple steals.
Hastick was named to the Third-Team All-Patriot League in recognition of her impressive season. She has not played this season due to injury but is expected back soon, providing a significant boost to Army’s already potent lineup.
Freshman Phenom: Reaganne Reardon
Freshman Reaganne Reardon hasn’t skipped a beat in the opening two games of her collegiate career. The Chicago native scored 11 points in her debut against Pace and followed with seven against St. Thomas on Saturday. Reardon also grabbed eight boards in her debut while dishing out a pair of assists and was the first substitution off the bench against St. Thomas.
Most importantly, Reardon ignited Army’s game-changing 17-0 run at St. Thomas with a clutch three-pointer with 2:44 left in the third quarter—a moment that turned the entire game around.
Reardon is one of four freshmen on the roster, joining Kelly Cramer, Jane Preston, and Landry Sherrer. Before hitting the court with their teammates, all four completed Beast Barracks—a grueling six-week military training designed to help cadets transition from civilian to military life.
One Last Ride: Soleil Montrose
Junior Soleil Montrose enters her final year of athletic eligibility looking to continue being a key contributor off the bench. A transfer from UTEP three years ago, the California native averaged 13.9 minutes and 3.9 points per game last season. Her best collegiate performance to date came against Air Force on November 15, when she scored a career-high 15 points while grabbing six rebounds to help Army secure the Silver Star.
Through two games this season, Montrose is averaging 6.5 points per game on 55.6% shooting from the field and 40.0% from three-point range.
Championship Caliber Leadership
One of the defining characteristics of this Army team is its player-led leadership. In a critical moment during the third quarter at St. Thomas, 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.
“My best teams I’ve ever coached are the self-led teams,” Kuester said. “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.”
It Runs in the Family
Head coach Katie Kuester is the daughter of former NBA coach John Kuester, who spent over 30 years on the sidelines, including 17-plus seasons in the NBA. John Kuester was most notably the head coach of the Detroit Pistons from 2009-11 and last coached as an assistant for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2011-12 season.
Katie Kuester is believed to be the only active women’s basketball head coach whose father was an NBA head coach, bringing a unique basketball pedigree to West Point.
All Eyes on Army
Army will appear on national television at least twice this season, with both games against Navy airing on CBS Sports Network. Last season, Army appeared on CBSSN three times—the two Navy games and the Patriot League Tournament Championship game against Lehigh.
The Black Knights have dominated their service academy rivals recently, winning the last seven matchups against Navy to secure the Star. Army also defeated Air Force Falcons at home in mid-November last season.
Series History Favors the Black Knights
Army holds a commanding 4-1 all-time advantage over Siena and has won four straight meetings dating back to 1983. The Black Knights defeated the Saints 66-56 in last year’s meeting on November 6, 2024, in Loudonville, N.Y. Siena’s lone win in the series came nearly 45 years ago, a 47-46 victory on January 16, 1980.
Thursday’s matchup will mark the first time Army has hosted Siena at Christl Arena in the modern era of the series.
Siena Searching for First Win
The Saints enter West Point winless through two games and struggling on both ends of the floor. Siena is averaging just 58.0 points per game while allowing 68.5, resulting in a -10.5 scoring margin. The Saints have shot just 33.1% from the field and 25.0% from three-point range while committing 19.5 turnovers per game.
Second-year head coach Terry Primm will look to find answers against a Black Knights squad that has outscored opponents by an average of 21 points per game. The Saints’ assist-to-turnover ratio of 0.5 highlights their offensive struggles, as they’ve managed just 10.5 assists per game compared to Army’s 22.5.
Home Sweet Home: Christl Arena Advantage
Christl Arena has already been a fortress for the Black Knights, and recent offseason improvements have made it an even more intimidating venue for opponents. Army West Point Athletics installed a massive videoboard screen behind one of the hoops before the 2025-26 season, enhancing the gameday experience for fans and players alike.
Army went 13-3 at home last season and opened this year with a dominant 86-50 victory over Pace at Christl Arena. The 5,043-seat venue, which opened in 1988, has become synonymous with Army’s defensive intensity and home-court dominance.
What to Watch
Reese Ericson’s 1,000-Point Chase: With 917 career points, Ericson needs just 83 more to join Army’s prestigious 1,000-point club. At her current pace of 15.0 ppg, she could reach the milestone within the next six games.
Army’s Three-Point Barrage: The Black Knights are knocking down 11.0 three-pointers per game on 37.9% shooting, ranking first in the Patriot League and eighth nationally in makes. Ericson and Taylor Wilson have been particularly lethal, combining to shoot 62.1% from beyond the arc.
Turnover Battle: Army’s 1.80 assist-to-turnover ratio dwarfs Siena’s 0.5 mark. The Black Knights are averaging just 12.5 turnovers per game compared to Siena’s 19.5.
Kya Smith’s Dominance in the Paint: Smith’s 66.7% shooting and 9.5 rebounds per game make her a force inside. Siena’s ability to contain her will be critical.
Looking Ahead: Headed West
Following Thursday’s game, the Black Knights will travel to the Pacific Northwest for a Sunday showdown against Big Ten foe Oregon in Eugene. The game holds special significance for senior captain Reese Ericson, who will play in front of over 60 family members and friends in her home state.
Game Information
Matchup: Siena Saints (0-2, 0-0 MAAC) at Army West Point Black Knights (2-0, 0-0 Patriot League)
Date/Time: Thursday, November 13, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. ET
Location: Christl Arena (5,043) | West Point, N.Y.
Watch: ESPN+
Play-by-Play: Justin Rocke
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