Lehigh Shoots Past Army in Women’s Basketball Conference Opener

West Point, NY- In a highly anticipated rematch of the 2025 Patriot League Tournament final, Lehigh handed Army its first home loss of the Katie Kuester era, 77-66, at Christl Arena. The Black Knights (9-3, 0-1) struggled to keep pace with the Mountain Hawks’ (5-7, 1-0) red-hot shooting, particularly from beyond the arc.

Early Defensive Battle and Lehigh’s Second-Quarter Surge

The opening quarter was a defensive tug-of-war, with both teams trading buckets and Army tying the game on a clutch three from Camryn Tade. However, Lehigh seized momentum in the second quarter, erupting for 23 points on 6-7 shooting—including a perfect 3-3 from deep—and built an 18-point halftime lead. Army’s offense sputtered, shooting just 25% in the period and committing 10 first-half turnovers.

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Army’s Second-Half Rally Falls Short

After trailing by 15 at the break, Army stormed back in the third quarter, outscoring Lehigh 24-18 behind a 6-0 run sparked by Kya Smith. Taylor Wilson and Tade chipped in key buckets, but the Mountain Hawks consistently answered, maintaining a double-digit buffer.

Standout Performances and Key Matchups

Kya Smith followed her historic 27-point, 22-rebound night with another double-double—18 points, 13 rebounds, and a career-best six assists. Taylor Wilson led Army with 20 points, while Tade added 16. For Lehigh, Whitney Lind and Lily Fandre each scored 18, outdueling Army’s frontcourt and contributing to a 9-18 team mark from three-point range.

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Battle in the Paint and on the Boards

Despite the loss, Army won the rebounding battle 32-23 and outscored Lehigh in the paint (32-26) and on second-chance points (12-5). However, Lehigh’s 52.4% shooting and 24-27 free throw performance proved decisive.

Looking Ahead

Army will look to bounce back on the road against Colgate, aiming to regain momentum in conference play.

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