ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Getting on the court for the first time in the 2021 calendar year saw the Navy women's basketball team reach into the win column as the Mids split a two-game home series with the American University Eagles. Following a 29-day break for to the holidays and back-to-back postponements of Patriot League weekend series due to COVID protocols, the Mids (1-5, 1-1 PL, 1-1 PL South) battled for 40 minutes with the Eagles on Saturday before taking control early and holding on for a 70-67 victory on Sunday, the first under the direction of first-year head coach Tim Taylor. Sunday's effort was aided by Navy fielding an all-veteran starting lineup for the first time in 2020-21, including the potent upperclass trio of Sophie Gatzounas, Jennifer Coleman and Kolbi Green; prior to Sunday the team had at least one freshmen in the starting five in each of the first five contests. The Mids will now looking to carry over that momentum into a weekend series versus Army (5-6, 2-4 PL, 2-4 PL North). In a precursor to February 20's Star Game, Army and Navy will play single games on Saturday and Sunday. Overall, the Mids and Black Knights will play four times this season as the Patriot League makes an effort to minimize travel with more regional "pod" and rivalry action during this COVID-19 impacted season. Both games this weekend will hosted by at Christl Arena and have 1 PM tip times with all of the action streamed on ESPN+. 

Navy versus Army
The Mids and Black Knights have met 75 times in a series that began on January 18, 1981  ... All-time, Navy leads Army, 38-37, with an 18-16 advantage in games played at West Point ... The Mids have won three of their last five games at Christl Arena; in 2015, 2017 and 2018 (2016's game was at Madison Square Garden) ... Over the last ten matchups, the series leans towards the Mids by a slim 6-4 margin with the Mids winning five straight decisions over the Black Knights during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
    Last 5 Games:
    Feb. 22, 2020 (A): Army 62 - Navy 52 **2020 Star Game
    Jan. 25, 2020 (H): Navy 57 - Army 45
    Feb. 23, 2019 (H): Army 60 - Navy 48 **2019 Star Game
    Jan. 19, 2019 (A): Army 55 - Navy 52
    Feb. 10, 2018 (A): Navy 55 - Army 46 **2018 Star Game

Looking Back at the Last Army-Navy Matchup, February 22, 2020
With the 2020 Women's Basketball Star on the line Saturday, February 22 at Christl Arena, Navy put forth a valiant effort and battled for 40 minutes, but clutch free throw shooting by Army helped the host Black Knights hold on for the 62-52 victory. Trailing by 11 through three quarters, the Mids cut their deficit to as little as three points midway through the final quarter before the Black Knights thwarted them and clinched the victory. 

Navy was led by its senior class in Saturday's clash for the star. Morgan Taylor and Mary Kate Ulasewicz both reached double-figures in points as Evans netted a team-high 15, while Ulasewicz added 10. The Mids' team captain, Ulasewicz, also recorded a game-high six assists. Laurel Jaunich was Navy's third-highest scorer with seven points. Montana Braxton left her mark on the contest with a game-high four steals.

For the game, Army outshot Navy, 40.0 percent (20-50) to 35.3 (18-51) from the field and 72.0 percent (18-25) to 62.5 (10-16) from the foul line. Neither team had much success from three-point range as the Mids won the category marginally, 25.0 percent (6-24) to 23.5 (4-17).

The Black Knights won the rebound battle by 16 boards, 42-26. Lindsay Scamman corralled a game-high 13 rebounds for Army, while Taylor led Navy with five caroms.

Defensively, Navy forced Army into 18 turnovers and were credited with 12 steals. Braxton was at the forefront of the Mids' physical buzzing defense as she tallied four thefts. 

Comparing the Teams

Last Time Out: Sunday, January 17 versus American
Navy collected its first win of the 2020-21 season on Sunday versus American University after taking the lead early in the second quarter and holding on for the next 29 minutes in the eventual 70-67 victory. The Mids received a career-best 25 points from junior Kolbi Green as the team gave first-year head coach Tim Taylor his first collegiate victory. Playing their second game in as many days, Navy turned up the pressure defensively and forced American into 24 turnovers, while sinking 18 free throws, one day after only forcing 13 turnovers and going 4-14 from the charity stripe against the Eagles.

The lethal junior combination of Green and Jennifer Coleman was all over the place on Sunday as they almost never left the court and affected the game both offensively and defensively. Playing in 40 of 40 minutes, Green scored 25 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, as well as adding two steals on defense, while her counterpart Coleman was on the court for 39 minutes and tallied 17 points, six rebounds, seven assists and a team-high three steals.

In the Mids' 70-67 win, the hosts were outshot from the field 50 percent (24-48) to 38 percent (24-63). The Eagles also held a slight advantage in three-point shooting, 29 percent (4-14) to 25 percent (4-16). Navy had a strong showing at the foul line as the team converted 75 percent of their attempts (18-24) versus 68 percent for American (15-22).

The rebounding battle was nearly even as the Eagles edged the Mids, 37-35, though Navy held a 14-8 margin in offensive boards. Navy received a well-rounded effort on the glass as Sophie Gatzounas led with eight rebounds, but was closely backed up with six caroms from each of Coleman, Ciera Hertelendy and Lindsay Llewellyn.

One of the most telling statistical breakdowns from Sunday was the Mids forcing the Eagles into 24 turnovers and tallying 10 steals. 13 of those miscues occurred in the second half, including nine in the fourth quarter. Gatzounas and Coleman each recorded three steals in the contest.

Navy News & Notes
-Finding the Right Combo
After graduating four starters from its 2019-20 team and dealing with a multitude of injuries and COVID procedural hurdles, Coach Taylor and Navy are looking to find a strong starting lineup that they can count on game-in, game-out. Through six games the Mids have rolled with five different lineups; they only repeated Games One and Two; (G) Schrader, Green & Gatzounas and (F) Andrews and Watts.

-2021 Patriot League Scheduling
The 2021 Patriot League regular season has been condensed into Saturday/Sunday two-game series and in most cases a home-and-home series should day of travel be managable. 

    Here are some statistical breakdowns (12 series so far, 6 involving home-and-homes)
    Weekend Sweeps: 9, 6 involving home-and-home

    Game One Home/Away Split: 4 Wins-Home / 8-Road
    Game One Winning Score: 74.92 ppg
    Game One Losing Score: 56.00 ppg
    Average Margin: 18.92 ppg
    Total Points: 130.92 ppg

    Game Two Home/Away Split: 9 Wins-Home / 3-Road
    Game Two Winning Score: 69.50 ppg
    Game Two Losing Score: 56.00 ppg
    Average Margin: 13.50 ppg
    Total Points: 125.50 ppg