Army West Point Athletics
Monday, March 9
West Point, N.Y.
6 p.m.
Army West Point
24-6,14-4Patriot
65
vs
57
Lafayette
11-19,7-11Patriot
1
2
3
4
F
Lafayette
16
17
6
18
57
Army West Point
19
13
14
19
65
Women’s Basketball Downs Lafayette, Advances to Patriot League Semifinals
March 09, 2026 | Women's Basketball
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Thanks to a massive performance from Kya Smith and smothering defense, the Army West Point women's basketball team defeated Lafayette 65-57 in the quarterfinal round of the Patriot League Tournament on Monday night at Christl Arena.
With the win, Army (24-6) has punched its ticket to the semifinal round on Thursday and will travel to No. 2 seed Holy Cross for a 6 p.m. showdown for a spot in the championship game on Sunday.
Smith had a monstrous game for the Black Knights, scoring a game-high 21 points and 21 rebounds for her 12th double-double of the season. Monday marked her second game this season with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds, after she had 27 points and 22 rebounds against Howard on Dec. 29. She is one of three players nationally to have multiple games this season of 20-plus points and 20-plus rebounds.
The win also marked the 24th of the season, which ties a program record for the most wins in the first year of a head coach in Army program history. Katie Kuester ties Dave Magarity, who also won 24 in 2006-07.
How it Happened
Both teams came out strong in the opening quarter of action on Monday, as the two sides combined for 35 points. Taylor Wilson opened the scoring for Army and had a team-high six points in the frame. Six Army players scored at least two points to help give Army a 19-16 lead going into the second.
Lafayette played its best stretch of basketball in the second period, as it outscored Army 17-13 and closed on a 5-0 run to take a one-point lead into halftime. The Black Knights struggled shooting the ball, going 6-18 from the field. The different in the quarter was free-throws, as Lafayette went 7-7 from the line compared to Army's zero attempts.
At the break, Taylor Wilson continued to pace Army with eight points, while Reganne Reardon had seven. Army shot 37.5 percent in the opening 20 minutes of action, while Lafayette was sitting at 48 percent.
The third quarter proved to be the most consequential 10 minutes of the season for Army, who was able to regain the momentum it lost during the second quarter. The Army defense allowed just six points and held Lafayette to 1-9 shooting.
Trailing 37-36 with 5:57 left in the period, the Black Knights closed on a 10-2 run to take a seven-point lead into the final frame. The run, which was started by a two-point shot from Reese Ericson, saw Smith score five points and Reardon add a massive three.
The Leopards were not going down without a fight in the fourth quarter, as they opened the frame on a 7-0 run to tie the game up at 46-46 with just under eight minutes to play. The two teams traded points over the next few possessions, and with 4:29 to go, Army found itself behind 52-51.
Needing a massive response to keep its championship hopes alive, Army went on an 8-0 over the next 2:29 to jump back ahead 59-52. Camryn Tade, who finished with 12 points, had the first six points of the run.
With 1:16 to go, Smith recorded a massive layup to make it a six point game, and the lead only increased from there.
By The Numbers
In addition to Smith's massive game, Tade and Reardon each added 12 huge points to help Army advance to the semifinal round.
Army finished the game shooting 35.4 percent but dished out 15 assists to just seven turnovers. Ericson and Smith led the passing game with four assists each.
Defense was the story of the game for the Black Knights, as it held Lafayette to 34.8 percent shooting and forced 12 Leopard turnovers. Lafayette also struggled shooting from distance, making just 3-13 shots from deep. Teresa Kiewiet had 18 points for Lafayette.
The two teams combined for 47 free throws on Monday. Army was 17-24 from the line, while Lafayette was 22-23.
Thanks to Smith's 21 rebounds, Army won the board battle 48-29. It marks a season-high rebound total for the Black Knights and are the most rebounds in a game since they had 49 against Lafayette in the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinal last season. Taylor Wilson also added seven rebounds, while all eight players who appeared for Army had at least one.
In scoring breakdown, the Black Knights led in points in the paint (36-22), second chance points (19-5), bench points (17-15) and points off turnovers (8-6).
Quotable – Head Coach Katie Kuester
"They were relentless. Those last five and six minutes, they had a refuse to lose mentality. That's what it takes in March. I told them before the game, the teams that win in March are starving every single possession, every single moment, every single quarter, and obviously every single game. They were starving those last five minutes."
Kuester on Smith
"I love that kid. She's such a force, but she's a force every single day. When she has nights like these, I can't say I'm fully surprised. I mean, the kid has a motor. The kid has an energy and an effort and enthusiasm about herself that she brings every single day, and it's contagious throughout our whole program. One through 14. She injects herself in every single one of them and you can tell."
Up Next
The Black Knights travel to Holy Cross on Thursday for the semifinal matchup. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
Quarterfinal Notables
• Kya Smith led the way with 21 points and 21 rebounds for her 12th double-double of the season. She is one of three players in the country this season with multiple 20-point, 20-rebound games.
• Monday marked the 24th win of the season, which ties a program record for the most wins in the first year of a head coach in Army program history.
• Army advances to the semifinal for the second consecutive season. Last year Army also beat Lafayette in the quarterfinal round and played Bucknell in the semifinal game.
• Also scoring in double-digits for Army was Camryn Tade (12) and Reganne Reardon (12).
• Army had a season-high 48 rebounds, which are its most in a game since it had 49 against Lafayette in the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinal last season.
• Army is 51-29 all-time against Lafayette.
With the win, Army (24-6) has punched its ticket to the semifinal round on Thursday and will travel to No. 2 seed Holy Cross for a 6 p.m. showdown for a spot in the championship game on Sunday.
Smith had a monstrous game for the Black Knights, scoring a game-high 21 points and 21 rebounds for her 12th double-double of the season. Monday marked her second game this season with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds, after she had 27 points and 22 rebounds against Howard on Dec. 29. She is one of three players nationally to have multiple games this season of 20-plus points and 20-plus rebounds.
The win also marked the 24th of the season, which ties a program record for the most wins in the first year of a head coach in Army program history. Katie Kuester ties Dave Magarity, who also won 24 in 2006-07.
How it Happened
Both teams came out strong in the opening quarter of action on Monday, as the two sides combined for 35 points. Taylor Wilson opened the scoring for Army and had a team-high six points in the frame. Six Army players scored at least two points to help give Army a 19-16 lead going into the second.
Lafayette played its best stretch of basketball in the second period, as it outscored Army 17-13 and closed on a 5-0 run to take a one-point lead into halftime. The Black Knights struggled shooting the ball, going 6-18 from the field. The different in the quarter was free-throws, as Lafayette went 7-7 from the line compared to Army's zero attempts.
At the break, Taylor Wilson continued to pace Army with eight points, while Reganne Reardon had seven. Army shot 37.5 percent in the opening 20 minutes of action, while Lafayette was sitting at 48 percent.
The third quarter proved to be the most consequential 10 minutes of the season for Army, who was able to regain the momentum it lost during the second quarter. The Army defense allowed just six points and held Lafayette to 1-9 shooting.
Trailing 37-36 with 5:57 left in the period, the Black Knights closed on a 10-2 run to take a seven-point lead into the final frame. The run, which was started by a two-point shot from Reese Ericson, saw Smith score five points and Reardon add a massive three.
The Leopards were not going down without a fight in the fourth quarter, as they opened the frame on a 7-0 run to tie the game up at 46-46 with just under eight minutes to play. The two teams traded points over the next few possessions, and with 4:29 to go, Army found itself behind 52-51.
Needing a massive response to keep its championship hopes alive, Army went on an 8-0 over the next 2:29 to jump back ahead 59-52. Camryn Tade, who finished with 12 points, had the first six points of the run.
With 1:16 to go, Smith recorded a massive layup to make it a six point game, and the lead only increased from there.
By The Numbers
In addition to Smith's massive game, Tade and Reardon each added 12 huge points to help Army advance to the semifinal round.
Army finished the game shooting 35.4 percent but dished out 15 assists to just seven turnovers. Ericson and Smith led the passing game with four assists each.
Defense was the story of the game for the Black Knights, as it held Lafayette to 34.8 percent shooting and forced 12 Leopard turnovers. Lafayette also struggled shooting from distance, making just 3-13 shots from deep. Teresa Kiewiet had 18 points for Lafayette.
The two teams combined for 47 free throws on Monday. Army was 17-24 from the line, while Lafayette was 22-23.
Thanks to Smith's 21 rebounds, Army won the board battle 48-29. It marks a season-high rebound total for the Black Knights and are the most rebounds in a game since they had 49 against Lafayette in the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinal last season. Taylor Wilson also added seven rebounds, while all eight players who appeared for Army had at least one.
In scoring breakdown, the Black Knights led in points in the paint (36-22), second chance points (19-5), bench points (17-15) and points off turnovers (8-6).
Quotable – Head Coach Katie Kuester
"They were relentless. Those last five and six minutes, they had a refuse to lose mentality. That's what it takes in March. I told them before the game, the teams that win in March are starving every single possession, every single moment, every single quarter, and obviously every single game. They were starving those last five minutes."
Kuester on Smith
"I love that kid. She's such a force, but she's a force every single day. When she has nights like these, I can't say I'm fully surprised. I mean, the kid has a motor. The kid has an energy and an effort and enthusiasm about herself that she brings every single day, and it's contagious throughout our whole program. One through 14. She injects herself in every single one of them and you can tell."
Up Next
The Black Knights travel to Holy Cross on Thursday for the semifinal matchup. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
Quarterfinal Notables
• Kya Smith led the way with 21 points and 21 rebounds for her 12th double-double of the season. She is one of three players in the country this season with multiple 20-point, 20-rebound games.
• Monday marked the 24th win of the season, which ties a program record for the most wins in the first year of a head coach in Army program history.
• Army advances to the semifinal for the second consecutive season. Last year Army also beat Lafayette in the quarterfinal round and played Bucknell in the semifinal game.
• Also scoring in double-digits for Army was Camryn Tade (12) and Reganne Reardon (12).
• Army had a season-high 48 rebounds, which are its most in a game since it had 49 against Lafayette in the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinal last season.
• Army is 51-29 all-time against Lafayette.
Team Stats
Laf
ARM
FG%
.348
.354
3FG%
.231
.111
FT%
.957
.708
RB
29
48
TO
12
7
STL
2
7
Game Leaders
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Guard
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