Army Women’s Basketball Marches to Victory: Black Knights Overcome Early Adversity to Dominate Saint Peter’s 65-43

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – In a display of resilience, grit, and the unwavering spirit that defines West Point, the Army Women’s Basketball team overcame early adversity to secure a commanding 65-43 road victory over Saint Peter’s at the Yanitelli Recreational Life Center. The Black Knights (6-2) demonstrated the mental toughness and adaptability that head coach Katie Kuester has instilled in her program, turning a sluggish first half into a dominant second-half performance.

Historic Milestone and Double-Double Excellence

Senior guard Reese Ericson etched her name deeper into Army West Point history, moving into second all-time in career 3-point field goals. Ericson entered the game with 202 career triples and drained five more in Wednesday’s victory, finishing with 15 points and showcasing the shooting prowess that has defined her remarkable career.

With 207 career three-pointers, Ericson now stands just 122 made threes shy of tying the all-time record held by Kelsey Minato, who finished her Army career with 329. The math is compelling: Ericson needs to average just 5.8 three-pointers per game for the remainder of the season to tie the record, and 5.85 per game to make it all hers. Given her shooting ability and Coach Kuester’s unwavering confidence in her, that record is well within reach.

“Reese, you know, she’s our heart and soul,” Coach Kuester said postgame. “I’ll never tell her to stop shooting. I know you guys know that. But, like, if she misses those first three shots, I’m comfortable with her taking the next nine. I know at least six or seven of them are going in, so I always feel good about that.”

The Transition to Solider After Basketball

Beyond her on-court excellence, Ericson faces another significant milestone in her West Point journey. The senior guard will be in attendance for Branch Night at West Point, where she will find out if she received the military assignment she has been looking forward to—a moment that represents the unique balance these Cadets maintain between athletic excellence and their commitment to serve their country.

Kya Continues Amazing Run

Kya Smith continued her dominant season with her fourth double-double, recording a game-high 17 points and 15 rebounds—tying her career-high set against Navy last season. Smith has led Army in scoring five times this season and has scored in double figures in every game, establishing herself as one of the Patriot League’s premier players.

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Overcoming the Zone: A Test of Character

The 11 a.m. tipoff—the earliest of the season for Army—presented challenges for both teams, with the first point not coming until 7:18 remained in the opening quarter. Saint Peter’s (1-6) employed a zone defense that initially frustrated the Black Knights’ offensive flow, a scheme Army hadn’t faced extensively this season.

“I give a lot of credit to Jen and how she coaches. You’re really bought in,” Kuester said of Saint Peter’s head coach Jen Bender. “You’re talking about a team that, you know, was down single digits against an opponent in Rutgers the other day. Like, they’re just gritty, they’re tough, they play a lot of zone, and we haven’t really faced a zone team since, you know, so it can sometimes stabilize your offense and frustrate you a little bit.”

The black Knights struggled to find rhythm in the first half, shooting just 38.7 percent from the field and 27.8 percent from three-point range. The Black Knights led 31-17 at halftime but knew adjustments were needed.

Second-Half Surge: Army Basketball at Its Best

The Black Knights emerged from the locker room with renewed focus and energy. Army shot 42.9 percent in the third quarter and 35.7 percent in the fourth, but more importantly, they finished with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio—a key metric Kuester emphasizes.

Brooke Wilson provided a critical spark in the third quarter, scoring eight points on perfect 3-3 shooting, including two three-pointers. Wilson finished with eight points, five rebounds, and a steal, providing exactly the energy Army needed.

“In that second half, you saw us get in a little bit more of a flow,” Kuester explained. “And luckily, we ended the game with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio, with goals coming in and hitting threes a big-time moment, so I was proud of them for that.”

The Black Knights’ defense was suffocating throughout, holding Saint Peter’s to just 34.9 percent shooting—the fourth time this season Army has held opponents under 40 percent (the team is 4-0 when accomplishing that feat). The Peacocks managed only 43 points, the fewest Army has allowed this season.

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Learning from Adversity: Oregon and EKU Experiences Pay Off

The victory was particularly meaningful following two heartbreaking losses that could have derailed a lesser team. Army fell to Oregon in a game where they competed admirably before a tough fourth quarter, and then dropped a winnable contest to Eastern Kentucky—a game that stung but provided valuable lessons.

“Just, you know, for the fact that the losses didn’t affect us, obviously, and we learned from them and grew from them,” Kuester said. “The Oregon experience, you’re spot-on. I mean, I wish we could take away that fourth quarter so bad, because I saw there’s 16 in the net. I was like, oh, if we could have just kept that within 10 to 15, and then EKU, a phenomenal program that’s going to do very well in their conference, but a great learning experience for us, that we just, you know, we weren’t operating on all cylinders, and you have to when you’re playing a phenomenal team like that.”

The resilience to bounce back from those setbacks speaks volumes about the character Kuester has built within her program. Rather than dwelling on what could have been, the Black Knights extracted lessons and applied them against Saint Peter’s.

Everyday Players, Championship Mentality

One of the most impressive aspects of Army’s victory was the collective effort. While Smith and Ericson provided star power, contributions came from throughout the roster. Camryn Tade added six points and six rebounds, Reganne Reardon chipped in six points and four rebounds, and Taylor Wilson contributed eight points and four assists.

“All those girls, I mean, they show up every single day just ready to work, and they’re everyday people, they’re everyday players,” Kuester said with evident pride. “Sometimes you see it in the box score, sometimes you don’t. But luckily, we have a team that they don’t care. They just want to win collectively as a team and as a unit.”

Kuester specifically praised Camryn Tade’s work ethic and dedication to improvement.

“Camryn Tade is one of our hardest workers. She’s in the gym nonstop and always watching film with Coach Maggie and Coach Amber, in the gym getting extra reps.”

Dominant Statistical Performance

Army’s statistical dominance told the story of the second half. The Black Knights outscored Saint Peter’s 23-17 in points off turnovers, 26-18 in points in the paint, and 24-8 in second-chance points. Army also made 10 three-pointers—just the second time this season they’ve reached double digits from beyond the arc (14 against Pace in the season opener).

The Black Knights held the lead for 37:04 of the 40-minute contest, never trailing after the opening minutes. The Black Knights’ biggest lead reached 23 points in the fourth quarter, a testament to their ability to impose their will as the game progressed.

Smith was particularly dominant on the glass in the fourth quarter, grabbing seven of her 15 rebounds in the final period while scoring six points. Her relentless effort on the boards and in the paint exemplified the Army spirit—never quit, never surrender.

A Coach Who Embraces the West Point Way

Head Coach Katie Kuester has fully embraced everything about Army, West Point, military life, and the unique challenges that come with coaching at a service academy. She’s proven herself to be a genuine badass who never makes excuses, always finds the bright spot in each day and game, and has instilled that same mentality in her players.

Her postgame comments reflected that philosophy—praising Saint Peter’s competitiveness, acknowledging the challenges her team faced, and celebrating the growth and resilience her players demonstrated. Kuester has built a program culture where everyday work ethic, collective success, and mental toughness are valued as much as individual statistics.

Looking Ahead: UMass Challenge Awaits

The Black Knights return to Christl Arena on Saturday at noon for a massive test against undefeated UMass. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and The Varsity Network, providing a national stage for Army to showcase the program Kuester is building.

This Army team is turning heads in the Patriot League and beyond. With a 6-2 record, a roster overflowing with talented players who deserve to be seen, and a head coach who embodies the West Point values of duty, honor, and resilience, the Black Knights are proving they can compete with anyone.

The Oregon and EKU games showed this team can hang with high-level competition. The Saint Peter’s victory demonstrated they can overcome adversity and execute when it matters. As the season progresses, Army Women’s Basketball is a program on the rise—and one that represents everything special about West Point.

Game Notes

• Kya Smith recorded her fourth double-double of the season (17 points, 15 rebounds) and has led Army in scoring five times this season
• Reese Ericson moved into second all-time in Army West Point women’s basketball history in career 3-point field goals (207) and is 122 made threes shy of tying Kelsey Minato’s all-time record (329)
• Brooke Wilson scored eight points on a perfect 3-3 shooting in the third quarter
• Army is 4-0 this season when holding opponents under 40 percent shooting
• The Black Knights made 10 three-pointers, just the second time this season reaching double digits (14 vs. Pace)
• Saint Peter’s 43 points were the fewest Army has allowed this season
• Army improved to 2-4 all-time against Saint Peter’s

Box Score Highlights

Army West Point (6-2)

• Kya Smith: 17 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
• Reese Ericson: 15 points, 5-14 3PT, 2 assists
• Brooke Wilson: 8 points, 2-2 3PT, 5 rebounds
• Taylor Wilson: 8 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds
• Reganne Reardon: 6 points, 4 rebounds
• Camryn Tade: 6 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists

Saint Peter’s (1-6)

• De’Naya Rippey: 15 points, 5 rebounds
• Eszter Turi: 7 points, 8 rebounds
• Layla Laws: 7 points, 6 rebounds

Game Details

• Attendance: 673
• Location: Yanitelli Recreational Life Center, Jersey City, N.J.
• Final Score: Army 65, Saint Peter’s 43

Army West Point Women’s Basketball returns to action Saturday, December 7, at noon against undefeated UMass at Christl Arena. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and The Varsity Network.