ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Patriot League women's basketball playoff seeding implications are abound on Saturday night when Navy and Loyola meet up at Alumni Hall in Annapolis. Following a Senior Day ceremony for team captain Bianca Roach, the Mids (10-16, 5-11 PL) and the Greyhounds (4-23, 3-13 PL) are slated to tip-off at 7 p.m. In a rematch from January 3, Navy will look to sweep its season series against Loyola and improve its seeding for the upcoming Patriot League Tournament. The Mids won that earlier matchup in Baltimore by a score of 58-46. Navy is currently eighth in the standings, while Loyola is ninth.

The Navy-Loyola matchup will be streamed live on the Patriot League Network. Live stats will be available at NavyStats.com. Additionally, WNAV (AM-1430 / FM-99.9) will carry the game over the radio waves.

Senior Day (6:55 PM)
Prior to the Navy-Loyola contest on Saturday night, the Navy Academy Athletic Association will hold a brief ceremony to honor the career and contributions of the Mids' senior team captain Bianca Roach. The four-year letterwinner from Virginia Beach, Va. has been a defensive stalwart for the Mids over her career and currently stands just one steal outside of the top-10 all-time in the history of Navy Women's Basketball. Through 120 games, Roach has accumulated 159 steals. Courtney Davidson '04 and Maile Shimoda '04 completed their respective careers with 160 steals to tie for 10th-place all-time. As a team, Navy has won 74 games and been to the WNIT Tournament twice during Roach's four years with the Mids.

Last Time Out
Faced with the prospect of slowing down the Patriot League's top-scoring women's basketball team, the Bucknell Bison on the road, Navy was up for the task early on before a lengthy 25-0 run over the end of the first quarter and the majority of the second put the Bison handedly in the lead for good on their way to a 90-48 victory. One of the top-20 three-point shooting teams in the NCAA, Bucknell (23-5, 13-2 PL) was dangerous from deep on Wednesday night at Sojka Pavilion as the Bison hit 52.0 percent of their shots in their home arena versus Navy (10-16, 5-11 PL).

Jennifer Coleman was a standout for the Mids as she tied her career-high with 23 points scored on 9-17 shooting from the field and 3-5 from three-point range. Bianca Roach and Jasmine Bishop each added seven points for Navy on the night.

The teams traded baskets early on Wednesday night as Coleman's second field goal in a span 2:55 knotted the game at four-all. Four made free throws in quick succession expanded the Bison's lead out to 8-4 before Coleman connected for her third basket as many tries. With the score 11-8 in favor of Bucknell, Coleman continued her fast start with a layup in transition at 3:58 to tighten it to a one-point margin at 11-10. The Bison tallied five of the next seven points to go up 16-12 with 3:01 left in the first quarter. On the strength of a 5-0 run over the final 30 seconds, the host Bison took a 23-16 lead into the first quarter intermission.

Bucknell extended its run out to 18-0 with 13 quick unanswered points over the first 3:56 of play in the second quarter. The top-scoring team in the Patriot League kept its foot on the pedal and expanded its lead out to 27 points at 43-16 by 4:09. After starting the period 0-10 from the field Roach was on the receiving end of a Sierra Swanda pass under the hoop for an easy layup at 2:56 to end the 25-0 run. On the ensuing possession, the Mids made it a 43-20 game as Bishop sank an elbow jumper. Coleman finally found the bottom of the basket from distance for Navy at 0:56 to make it 45-23. That trey was the first of the game for the visitors, while Bucknell was downing shots from three-point range at a 50 percent (5-10) clip in the first half.

Starting the final period up 64-30, Bucknell held Navy at distance for the entirety of the final quarter. Four consecutive points by Bishop between 7:43 and 6:52 and a trey by Green at 6:14 highlighted the Mids' performance over the first four minutes of action. Over the course of the period, four players accumulated a total of 18 points for Navy. Coleman was the leader for the Mids' offensively in the stanza with seven points on 2-4 shooting from the field, 1-1 from three and 2-2 from the foul line. Bucknell closed the period with 26 total points to conclude the contest with a 90-48 victory.

For the game, Bucknell outshot Navy from the field, 54.4 percent (31-57) to 28.6 (18-63) and 52.0 percent (13-25) to 20.0 (4-20) from three-point range. The Bison also held a 71.4 percent (15-21) to 61.5 percent (8-13) edge at the foul line. Coleman made three of the Mids' four treys on Wednesday night.

Looking Back at Navy-Loyola Game One: January 3, 2019
Navy began its 2018-19 Patriot League season with a strong road victory over Loyola on Wednesday, January 3. Tied early 2-2, the Mids (6-5, 1-0 PL) broke open the game in the first quarter and eventually took a 33-19 lead into halftime on their way to the win over the Greyhounds (1-11, 0-1 PL). Navy was clicking on both sides of the ball at Reitz Arena as they shot 42.6 percent for the game, while defensively holding Loyola to 27.9 percent from the floor.

Jennifer Coleman and Sophie Gatzounas spearheaded Navy's attack as the duo combined for 32 points and 22 rebounds. Individually, Coleman went for 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes of action, while Gatzounas backed up her teammate with 13 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in 33 minutes.

The action in the first quarter opened fairly equal and close over the first seven minutes as the Mids held a one-to-two possession lead throughout most of the play. With the scoreboard showing Navy up 8-6, a pull-up three-point from the top of the floor by Laurel Jaunich at 2:10 sparked an 8-2 run to conclude the period.

On the strength of 53.6 percent (15-28) shooting, the Mids went into the locker room at halftime up 33-19. Navy's attack was well-balanced as four players had five or more points: Jennifer Coleman (8), Laurel Jaunich (7), Sophie Gatzounas (7) and Kolbi Green (5).

Navy kept its foot on the pedal as the team immediately came out of halftime and netted 10 points in the first three minutes. Three-pointers by Coleman and Morgan Taylor were highlights of this span as the Mids expanded their lead out to a then- game-high 19 points at 43-24 by the 7:01 mark. The game continued at a 16-21-point margin for the entirety of the period. The quarter featured Navy shooting 42.9 percent (6-14) from the field and sinking three of four three-pointers.

Up 50-31 going into the final period of play, Navy's pace slowed down a bit and Loyola was able to take advantage as the hosts shrunk their deficit to 10 points at 56-46 with 39 seconds remaining. A pair of free three throws by Gatzounas down the stretch closed the game with a final score of 58-46.

For the game, Navy outshot Loyola, 42.6 percent (23-54) to 27.9 (19-68). The Mids also outshot the Greyhounds from three-point range, 46.2 percent (6-13) to 26.3 (5-19), and at the foul line, 66.7 percent (6-9) to 50.0 (3-6). That field goal percentage was the second-best shooting effort of the season for the Mids, while defensively, that was the team's second-lowest opponent field goal percentage.

Navy versus Loyola
The Mids and Greyhounds have met 29 times in a series that began on January 28, 1979 ... All-time, Navy leads Loyola, 21-8 with a 13-2 mark in games played in Annapolis; the Greyhounds last win in Annapolis was Dec. 3, 2010 ... Since the Greyhounds joined the Patriot League in 2013-14, the Mids are 9-3, including a 1-1 showing in a pair of Patriot League postseason contests ... Over the last ten matchups, Navy is 7-3.
    Last 5 Games:
    January 3, 2019 (A): Navy 58 - Loyola 46
    March 5, 2018 (H): Navy 63 - Loyola 55 (PL Quarterfinals)   
    Feb. 24, 2018 (A): Loyola 58 - Navy 40
    Dec. 29, 2017 (H): Navy 73 - Loyola 44
    Feb. 8, 2017 (A): Navy 55 - Loyola 43

Comparing the Teams

Coleman Eyes the Record Books
Freshman guard Jennifer Coleman's excellent rookie season has put her in some esteemed company and given her the opportunity to etch her name into the program record book.
    Top-Five Freshmen Scorers in Navy History
    #1. 414 - Colleen Cassidy (1978-79, 17.3 PPG)
    #2. 398 - Cassie Consedine (2007-08, 13.7 PPG)
    #3. 374 - Becky Dowling (1994-95, 13.4 PPG)
    #4. 330 - Jennifer Coleman (2018-19, 12.7 PPG)    
    #5. 324 - Courtney Davidson (2000-01, 11.6 PPG) 

    Defensive Rebounds in a Season (All Classes)
    #7. 166 - Becky Dowling, 1997-98
          166 - Cassie Consedine, 2008-09
    #9. 163 - Connie James, 1989-90
    #10. 162 - 3 Players, MR: Jade Geif, 2013-14
    ... 149 - Jennifer Coleman, 2018-19

NWB Youth Clinic (11 AM-12 PM, Ages 6-13)
The team will start its day off with a one-hour youth clinic across campus at the Halsey Gymnasium. Beginning at 11 a.m. the team will host youths between the ages of 6 through 13 for a free clinic. After learning the game from Navy's coaches and players, all participants will also have the opportunity to purchase tickets to that evening's game at a reduced rate. 

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.