Feb. 22, 2011
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- With its playoff positioning resting in its own hands, the Navy women's basketball team will play host to American Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in the final home game of the regular season for the Midshipmen. Navy will then close the regular season Saturday at Colgate.
Victories by the Mids in both games this week would give Navy at least a share of the league's regular season title for the second time in school history (1998) and make the Mids the top-seeded team in the upcoming tournament.
Wednesday's game is taking place while the USNA is in the midst of a security exercise. This will have an impact on the ability for fans to access the USNA grounds for the game. Following is a more thorough description of the impact upon fans attending the game:
"Exercise Solid Curtain/Citadel Shield 2011 will be conducted on naval bases and other installations throughout the continental United States, including the Naval Academy and Naval Support Activity Annapolis (NSAA), from Feb. 22-25, 2011. This is a regularly-scheduled Navy-wide exercise and not in response to any specific threat. It was developed to enhance the training and readiness of Navy's security personnel.
"While measures will be taken to minimize disruptions to normal Naval Academy and NSAA operations, visitors to the Naval Academy during this year's exercise should anticipate increased traffic and delays near the entrances to the Naval Academy, as well as additional security screening measures. We encourage commuters to consider alternate routes or add additional time to their commutes to avoid increased traffic and possible delays.
"On Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 23-24, Friends of the Naval Academy and Midshipmen Parent Passes may not be honored during the exercise. These individuals should contact their USNA sponsoring authority to request access.
"The pedestrian gate at Gate 3, Maryland Avenue, will have limited access. The gate will be open only between 6:30-8 a.m. and 2:15-3:15 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 23-24.
"Basketball season ticket holders' stubs can be used for vehicle access to the Naval Academy for Wednesday's game. For fans without season tickets, parking will be available at Navy Marine Corps Stadium ($5) and shuttle buses (free) will run between the stadium and Alumni Hall."
For maps and directions to the shuttle bus pick-up point as well as additional fan information, please click HERE.
A live video stream of Wednesday's game will be available to Navy All-Access subscribers and live statistics from the game will be offered for free. Visit www.NavySports.com to access links to live statistics and to sign-in or subscribe to Navy All-Access. A one-month subscription costs $9.95, while the cost for a year-long subscription is $79.95.
Navy will hold a Senior Night ceremony for Cassie Consedine (Bartlesville, Okla.) and Angela Myers (San Antonio, Texas) prior to the start of Wednesday's game. Then, at halftime of the contest, the Frisbee Dogs will make their annual appearance in Alumni Hall.
Navy enters Wednesday's game in a tie with Lehigh for second place in the Patriot League standings. The Mids, who fell out of first place for the first time this season with their loss to Army this past Saturday, and the Mountain Hawks have both posted 8-4 records in league play this season, while American stands one game in front of the two teams with a 9-3 record.
Navy posted a 57-46 victory over American when the two teams met earlier this year in Washington, D.C. Navy quickly jumped out to a 26-11 lead at halftime thanks to shooting 42 percent from the field and holding American to a 15-percent effort from the floor. The Mids would lead by as many as 17 points in the second half before the Eagles closed the margin down to eight points with three minutes left on the clock. Navy converted 8 of 11 attempts from the foul line over the remainder of the game to seal the victory.
Myers scored 15 points in Navy's win, with both Consedine and Jade Geif (Fr., Lakeview, Minn.) adding 10 points. Additionally, Audrey Bauer (Fr., Lake Zurich, Ill.) contributed 12 points and eight boards for Navy.
Lisa Strack recorded 15 points and eight rebounds to lead American in both categories.
No matter the outcome of either of Navy's games this week, the Mids have assured themselves of placing among the top-four teams in the final regular season standings. This means Navy will play host to a quarterfinal round game of the Patriot League Tournament on Saturday, March 5 at 7 p.m. against an opponent to be determined. Tickets priced at $8 for adults and $4 for youths are now on sale at the Navy Ticket Office (1-800-US4-NAVY), by logging on to www.NavySports.com and clicking on "TICKETS" or by visiting the concourse level of Alumni Hall during Wednesday's game.
