Army Sets the Tone Early
From the opening tip, the Black Knights (21-5, 12-3 Patriot) looked every bit the league contender. Sophomore Brooke Wilson provided the early spark, scoring the team’s first nine points—including back-to-back threes—to build a 13-8 first-quarter lead.
“Early in the game, it was another underclassman that did that, Brooke Wilson… First nine points of the game really helped keep the offense afloat,” Head Coach Katie Kuestersaid in the post-game press conference, praising her young guard’s contagious energy.
Reardon’s Breakout Night
As the Black Knights found their rhythm in the second and third quarters, Reganne Reardon’s all-around game took over. She attacked the rim with confidence, showcased the growth that’s made her one of the Patriot League’s most impactful rookies, and imposed her will defensively.
Speaking postgame with ESPN+ Analyst Justin Rocke, Reardon highlighted the team’s chemistry:
“We’re doing really well off the ball. We’ve been working in practice just moving the ball, making the extra pass. My team was very generous today.” She credited her coaches for pushing her to “always be ready to shoot,” a mindset that clearly paid off against the Greyhounds.
Black Rifle Coffee
Navy week doesn’t run on hype—it runs on habits. Early shots, late stops, and the focus to value every possession. Black Rifle Coffee Company delivers premium roast-to-order coffee built for the grind.
Brew a cup, lock in, and keep the standard high—on game day and every day.
Team Defense, Ball Control, and Trust
Army’s defense, the stingiest in the Patriot League, clamped down in the second half. Fronting in the post and relentless on the perimeter, the Black Knights forced 15 Loyola turnovers and held the Greyhounds to just 8 points in the final quarter.
Coach Kuester reflected on the defensive masterclass led by Associate Coach Maggie Dixon: “Coach Maggie… handles our defense. We stuck to our principles, and you saw fronting in the post was very impactful.” Offensively, the Black Knights protected the basketball with trademark precision—committing just eight turnovers. “We value the basketball… we enjoy finding each other and putting each other in successful situations,” Kuester added.
A Family Affair and a Historic Win
Behind the 16-point performance is a story of leadership rooted in family. Reardon, who comes from a large, athletic family in Chicago, IL, credits her eight siblings for her independent streak. “My parents instilled in me a lot of values of being independent and also being a leader at the same time,” she shared. Her family pedigree runs deep, her father, Bill Reardon, played football as a center and long snapper at Iowa… mother, Danielle Reardon, rowed at Iowa… brother, Buddy Reardon, played football as a long snapper at Iowa for four years and is currently playing for Northeastern… sister, Keely Reardon, did ROTC at Villanova… sister, Britni Reardon, is active in the National Guard
With the win, Coach Katie Kuester tied Harold Johnson (1980–81) for the most victories by a first-year Army women’s basketball head coach at 21, surpassing the legendary 2005–06 campaign of the late Maggie Dixon.
Eyes on the Star Game
Now, the Black Knights shift their focus to Saturday’s home showdown with Navy. Following Reese Ericson’s Player of the Week honors, the environment is expected to be electric.
“I’m excited. We have a lot to work on from the mistakes we made last game… I’m excited to see my family,” said Reardon. Coach Kuester echoed that fire: “I don’t know if ‘excited’ even does it justice. I’m so fired up at the opportunity to get another chance at them.”
Bad Dawg Sports: Real reporting – Real access – No nonsense
This wasn’t just a Loyola win—it was a tune-up with teeth. Reardon’s breakout, Kuester tying a historic first-year mark, and a fourth-quarter clampdown all point to one thing: Army is loading the gym for Navy. Want every boom and echo? Don’t miss our upcoming coverage—where we break down every ripple, every shockwave, and what it means for the season ahead.
If you want the real stuff — the context, the behind-the-scenes domino effects, and the stories that don’t fit in a headline — get on our newsletter. Only subscribers get our exclusive content, like what Army’s fronting and perimeter pressure is taking away, how the low-turnover identity travels into rivalry games, and the matchup keys that will decide Saturday. Dedicated coverage like this is strictly for insiders — don’t miss your chance.
This insanely low price won’t be around forever. We are offering this low price for a limited time as a thank-you to the world’s best subscribers and readers of Bad Dawg Sports. Subscribe for just $2 per year. That’s not a misprint—two bucks secures a whole year of insider-driven coverage and No-Nonsense analysis. Once preseason ends, this deal disappears. Don’t miss out.
Subscribe now and run with the pack.
Discover more from Bad Dawg Sports - Global Sports Coverage & Analysis
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
