ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy women's basketball team will host a talented field of programs this weekend with the 2018 edition of the Navy Classic at Alumni Hall. With doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday, the Mids (1-2) will kick off the action as they take on the Penn Quakers (3-1) on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. before the North Carolina A&T Aggies (1-3) and Maine Black Bears (2-2) face off at 3:15 p.m. The matchups flip on Sunday with the Mids and Aggies going head-to-head in the first game at 1:00 p.m. and the Quakers and Black Bears playing in the fourth game of the event at 3:15 p.m.
All four teams appearing at the Classic played in 2018 postseason tournaments with the Aggies and Black Bears competing in the 2018 NCAA Tournament and the Mids and Quakers earning spots in the WNIT Tournament. Each program won 22 or more games in 2017-18: Navy (25-8), North Carolina A&T (23-9), Maine (23-10) and Penn (22-9).
Both of Navy games will be streamed live on the Patriot League Network. Live stats will be available for all four games at NavyStats.com.
Note: Saturday's Navy-Penn matchup will be picked up by Stadium's OTA (Over the Air) options. Check out added information about Stadium's OTA setup at the bottom of this preview.
Last Time Out
Navy dropped its first road game of its 2018-19 schedule with a 65-58 decision at Norfolk State last Sunday. Trailing by 18 early in the fourth quarter, the Mids (1-2) used a furious comeback to cut their deficit to three points with 1:22 left in the game before the Spartans (2-2) secured the victory with four points down the stretch. Playing in its home arena, Echols Hall, Norfolk State built up its lead on Sunday by shooting a combined 68.0 percent (17-25) over the second and third quarters.
Coming out after the third quarter break down 54-41, Navy saw Norfolk State score the first five points of the period to go up a game-high 18 points at 59-41. Unfazed by their status, the Mids came roaring back with a 9-0 run over 2:38. Jennifer Coleman netted all nine points for Navy as the game sat at 59-50 at 6:13. A pair of free throws from Kolbi Green and later a three-pointer by the freshman extended the run out to 14-0 over 6:42. A pull-up jumper by Norfolk State's Dana Echols at 1:48 ended the scoreless drought for the Spartans and made it 61-55. A layup and and-one conversion by Bianca Roach cut the margin to just three points (61-58) with 1:22 left in regulation. That would be the final basket for the Mids as the Spartans notched the last four points of the game to earn the 65-58 victory.
A pair of freshmen powered Navy's effort on the road as Jennifer Coleman and Kolbi Green both reached double-digits in the scoring column. Coleman shot 9-17 from the floor on her way to a game-high 22 points. Coming off the bench over 18 minutes of action, Green registered 10 points.
Navy vs. Penn
Saturday's matchup will be the 10th all-time between the Mids and Quakers ... Navy leads the series which dates back to 1981, 5-4, with a 4-1 mark in five games contested in Annapolis ... the teams most recently matched up in Philadelphia on Dec. 5, 2015 with Penn winning, 57-43 ... the Quakers have won the past two games in 2014 and 2015 ... Navy's last win over Penn came at home on Dec. 6, 2009 with a 65-51 victory.
Navy vs. North Carolina A&T
Sunday's contest between the Mids and Aggies will be the sixth all-time ... Navy holds a one-game lead in the series, 3-2 and are undefeated in three games at home ... the last contest between the programs occurred on Nov. 22, 2015 in Annapolis with the Mids winning, 52-48 ... Navy and North Carolina A&T's first game in the series came on Dec. 19, 1998 as part of that season's Navy Classic.
Mids in the Navy Classic
An annual event, the Mids went 2-0 in action at the 2017 Navy Classic with a 67-54 victory over North Dakota State and an 86-48 win versus St. Bonaventure on the second day ...
Morgan Taylor was named the 2017 Navy Classic MVP for compiling a stat-line of 20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game ...The guard shot 65.2 percent (15-23) from the field and 62.5 (5-8) from three-point range.
As a team, Navy posted a 40.7 (55-135) field goal percentage, a 33.8 (22-65) three-point percentage and a 72.4 (21-29) percent mark from the foul line ... The Mids had a +15.0 advantage on the boards as they averaged 49.0 rebounds a game versus 34.0 for their opposition.
All-time at the Navy Classic, the Mids are 37-13 over 25 events dating back to 1990 ... the event has rotated between a tournament format and a classic with predetermined matchups ... the Classic has been an annual event in Annapolis since Head Coach
Stefanie Pemper took the reins of the Navy program in 2008-09 as the event was tabled in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 ... Navy has won four straight games in the Classic and nine of the last 10 games dating back to 2013.
Comparing the Teams
| (2018-19 Stats) |
Navy |
Penn |
N.C. A&T |
| Record / League-Only |
1-2 / 0-0 |
3-1 0-0 |
1-3 / 0-0 |
| Home /Away Record |
1-1 / 0-1 |
2-0 / 1-1 |
1-2 / 0-1 |
| Points Per Game |
62.3 PPG |
65.8 PPG |
55.0 PPG |
| Points Allowed Per Game |
57.7 PPG |
53.2 PPG |
61.0 PPG |
| Field Goal Percentage |
35.1 % |
39.8 % |
36.9 % |
| 3-Point Percentage |
23.3 % |
31.3 % |
27.5 % |
| Free Throw Percentage |
59.4 % |
63.1 % |
39.7 % |
| Rebounds Per Game |
37.7 RPG |
43.5 RPG |
39.2 RPG |
| Assists/Turnovers Per Game |
13.2 / 18.7 |
13.3 / 14.8 |
13.0 / 22.5 |
Individual Leaders
| (2018-19 Stats) |
Navy |
Penn |
N.Carolina A&T |
| Points Per Game |
Coleman, 14.3 PPG |
A. Russell, 14.0 PPG |
C. Foy, 13.7 PPG |
| Rebounds Per Game |
Gatzounas, 6.3 RPG |
A. Russell, 6.5 RPG |
A. Lessears, 7.0 RPG |
| Assists Per Game |
Coleman, 3.3 APG |
A. Russell, 3.3 APG |
S. Bostick, 4.8 APG |
| Field Goal Percentage |
Gatzounas, 42.1 % |
P. Aghayere, 55.2 % |
A. Lessears, 57.1 % |
| 3-Point Percentage |
Green, 33.3 % |
A. Russell, 50.0 % |
C. Foy, 31.6 % |
| Free Throw Percentage |
Green, 83.3 % |
A. Russell, 78.6% |
S. Bostick, 36.8 % |
Navy at Home
The Mids will look to continue their success within the friendly confines of Alumni Hall as the program has won 11 or more games in the arena since the 2010-11 season ... Beginning that season, the Mids are 102-31 with a program-record 16 wins coming during the 2017-18 campaign
Navy at Alumni Hall (2010/11 - 2018/19)
2018-19: 1-1
2017-18: 16-1
2016-17: 13-2
2015-16: 11-5
2014-15: 11-5
2013-14: 13-4
2012-13: 14-2
2011-12: 12-5
2010-11: 11-6
Stadium Airing Saturday's Navy-Penn Game "Over the Air"
Below are the main OTA links where viewers can find the game ...
OTA Channels: https://s23455.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/STADIUM-OTA-CHANNELS7-13-18.pdf
Watchstadium.com 24/7: https://watchstadium.com/live/
Watchstadium.com/schedule: https://watchstadium.com/live/152421/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/i/events/966812097186185216
Pluto TV: https://pluto.tv/tv/stadium
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/stadium
Xumo TV: https://www.xumo.tv/channel/9999319/stadium
FuboTV: (Fubo Extra Package) https://www.fubo.tv/welcome
Sony Vue: Core and Elite Tier
Connected TV apps - Amazon Fire, Roku, Apple TV 4, Apple TV Legacy, iOS and Android mobile.
Parking/Shuttle Ticket Information
Vehicle access to the U.S. Naval Academy is limited to those with a Department of Defense identification card ... It is suggested that everyone else park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium ($5 per vehicle) and ride the free shuttle bus to and from the game ... Shuttle bus service will begin one hour prior to tip. Note that a government issued identification card must be carried and presented by visitors ages 18 and older to the USNA prior to being allowed onto The Yard.
Tickets
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth online in advance of the game at NavySports.com. The Alumni Hall Ticket Office will open one hour prior to the start of the game.
