1/23/2005 - Women's Basketball
Navy Rally Falls Short in Loss to Army
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Navy sliced a 15-point deficit down to six points, but could pull no closer in an eventual 64-50 loss to Army in the annual Star Game between the two women's basketball teams, Sunday afternoon in Alumni Hall.
The Black Knights (10-8, 3-2 Patriot League) led by 11 points at halftime and held a double-digit lead through the opening 16 minutes of the second half, holding their largest lead of 15 points at 38-23 and 48-33 with 9:34 left in the game. Army still held a lead of 13 points with 4:33 to play when the Mids (6-12, 2-3 Patriot League) began their comeback.
Carly Meyer (So., Orlando, Fla.) hit a jumper, then Kate Hobbs (So., Wexford, Pa.) converted a field goal and a free throw with 3:36 to play to narrow the deficit to single digits for the first time in the half. After an Army missed shot, Nikki Curtis (Sr., Jacksonville, Fla.) scored on an inside shot after an offensive rebound and assist from LaTesha Ford (Sr., Upper Marlboro, Md.) to make the score 56-50 with 2:40 to play.
The Mids had three chances to cut into the deficit even more, but failed each time. Ford was fouled while grabbing the rebound off of an Army missed free throw, but missed her free throw attempt, as well. Meyer then stole the ball at midcourt, but missed the layup and Ford missed a follow attempt. After Army missed a three-point attempt on its next time down the court, Curtis was fed the ball inside on Navy's next possession but missed the three-foot shot with 1:18 to play in the game. With Navy forced to foul, the Black Knights converted 8-of-8 free throw attempts during the final 75 seconds to seal the victory.
"In a big game, sometimes emotion rules the day instead of preparation," said Navy head coach Tom Marryott. "It took us awhile to go to our game plan. Everyone was trying to make plays and do too many things, especially on defense. We needed to just play defense instead of trying to make plays. Army has a very good offense and will take advantage of teams who gamble against them as we did today."
Navy's offense struggled throughout the first half of the contest, missing five of its first-six and nine of its first-11 field goal attempts of the game, as well as both of its opening-two free throw attempts. Despite the slow start, Navy eventually tied the score at 15-15 with six minutes to play in the half. From there, though, Army closed the half on a 15-3 run and went into the locker room holding a 29-18 advantage.
The Mids shot only 23.3-percent (7-of-30) from the field in the first half, and were 1-of-9 from behind the three-point line. Slowing the Navy offense down even more was foul trouble by the Mids, who were whistled for 14 first-half fouls, with six of them being offensive fouls. Three Navy starters were called for three fouls apiece, while the Army team was whistled for only a total of six personal fouls in the half.
Navy shot only 32.8-percent (21-of-64) from the field in the game, as well as 46.2-percent (6-of-13) from the free throw line and 11.8-percent (2-of-17) from behind the three-point line. Army didn't shoot much better from the field, 39.2-percent (20-of-51), but made eight three-point field goals and sank 16-of-21 free throw attempts.
Curtis led Navy with 17 points and 11 rebounds for her third double-double in as many games. Army was led by 23 points from Cara Enright.
Navy will take to the road for four-straight games starting Friday night at Colgate.
