HAMILTON, N.Y. — In a statement win that echoed across the Patriot League, Army West Point women’s basketball delivered a commanding 81-49 victory over Colgate, earning first-year head coach Katie Kuester her inaugural conference win and sending a message that the Black Knights are a force to be reckoned with this season.
Relentless Start Sets the Tone
From the opening tip, Army (10-3, 1-1) seized control. Taylor Wilson’s early layups, combined with a suffocating defense, set the tempo. The Black Knights hit four of their first five shots and spread the ball around—six players scored in the opening quarter. Reese Ericson’s confident shooting and the team’s 7-2 run to close the period put Army up 20-10 after one. Colgate (5-8, 1-1) struggled to find answers as Army’s bench roared with every momentum play.
Black Knights News
- Kya Smith Named Patriot League Player of the Week: Smith’s historic 27-point, 22-rebound performance against Howard earns her top conference honors.
- Men’s Basketball Falls to Colgate: Army men’s basketball fell to Colgate despite a solid performance from NJ Guard Ryan Curry.
- Up Next: Both men’s and women’s teams travel to Loyola Maryland for midweek matchups. Catch all the action on ESPN+.
Second Quarter: Smothering Defense and Signature Runs
Army’s intensity only grew in the second quarter. The Black Knights unleashed a 7-0 run to open the frame, with Reganne Reardon and Camryn Tade attacking the rim and forcing Colgate into tough shots. The Raiders were held scoreless for nearly six minutes, as Army’s defense—anchored by Brooke Wilson and Kya Smith—forced turnovers and shut down passing lanes. The 13-0 run before halftime left Colgate stunned and Army fans celebrating a 42-15 lead at the break—the Knights’ highest-scoring first half this season.
Key Matchups: Wilson vs. Matthews, Paint Battle, and Bench Depth
Taylor Wilson’s matchup with Colgate’s Taye Matthews was a battle of grit and hustle. Wilson’s relentless rebounding and presence in the paint overwhelmed Matthews, who finished with 10 points but couldn’t match Wilson’s double-double (17 points, 11 boards). Army’s 50 points in the paint told the story: the Black Knights attacked the rim, finished through contact, and dominated second-chance opportunities (16 points).
Bench depth was another difference-maker. Army’s reserves outscored Colgate’s 25-22, with Reardon and Fiona Hastick making their presence felt. Hastick’s first points of the season brought the bench to its feet, a testament to the team’s unity and energy.
Third Quarter: The Knockout Punch
If Colgate hoped to regroup, Army slammed the door with their best offensive quarter of the season. Wilson and Ericson combined for quick buckets, and Camryn Tade drilled a pair of threes as Army shot a blistering 76.9% in the period. The Knights’ 13-2 run ballooned the lead to 35, and by the end of the third, it was 64-29. Every rebound, every hustle play, and every bucket drew cheers from the Army faithful and left the Raiders searching for answers.
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Fourth Quarter: Closing with Authority
The final ten minutes were a celebration of Army’s depth and discipline. Wilson capped her career night with her 11th rebound, Tade and Reardon continued to attack, and Hastick’s layup was met with thunderous applause. Army’s largest lead of the day—38 points—came with 5:30 left, sealing their most dominant conference performance yet.
By the Numbers
- Taylor Wilson: 17 points (8-12 FG), 11 rebounds (first career double-double)
- Double-digit scorers: Tade (12), Reardon (11), Ericson (10)
- 51.7% shooting from the field, 43 rebounds to Colgate’s 27
- 50 paint points, 16 second-chance points, 25 bench points
- Army held Colgate to just 32.2% shooting and five points in the second quarter
- Largest lead: 38 points
Key Moments & Atmosphere
The roar after Wilson’s double-double, the eruption for Hastick’s first basket, and the thunderous applause for every defensive stop made Cotterell Court feel like Black Knight territory. Army’s bench was electric—every player locked in, every coach on their feet. The signature moment? A third-quarter sequence where Wilson blocked a shot, sprinted the floor, and finished a layup off an Ericson assist, sending the Army bench into a frenzy and Colgate into a timeout.
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