Post Game Interview NEWARK, NJ—Paced by 22 points from the program's all-time leading career scorer, senior guard Kelsey Minato, Army West Point rolled to its eighth win in nine starts with a 71-35 non-conference women's basketball win over NJIT Friday night in the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center.
Minato, who shot 7-for-14 from the field, including 5-for-10 from 3-point distance and 3-for-4 at the foul line against NJIT, crossed the 2,000-point career plateau on an early 3-pointer that tied the score at 3 apiece just 89 seconds into the game. Her 22 points raised 5-foot-8 California native's career scoring total to 2,019 points.
Aside from Minato, the visiting Black Knights had just one double-figure scorer, senior center Aimee Oertner, who netted 11 points and added 8 rebounds in just 18 minutes of action. However, 12 individuals got into the scoring column for the deep Army West Point squad, which notched its second straight victory of 36 points or more (the Black Knights won 74-35 at St. Francis Brooklyn three nights earlier).
Army West Point collected assists on 19 of its 25 baskets in the game, with sophomore Janae McNeal's 5 assists leading the way.
The Black Knights controlled the boards, outrebounding NJIT 39-28. Oertner's 8 rebounds were game-high and sophomore Aliyah Murray pulled down 6 rebounds in 13 minutes off the bench. Much as with the numerous scorers, the visitors had 13 players in the rebounds column.
Leah Horton was the top scorer and rebounder for the Highlanders (3-6), finishing with 15 points and 7 rebounds. After her,
Camerin Spahn's 6 points were second-highest.
Ruta Vetra was the second-leading rebounder for the home team, pulling down 5 in 20 minutes of play.
NJIT took an early 3-0 lead when
Kelly Guarino swished three free throws awarded after she was fouled attempting a 3-point shot 44 seconds after the opening tip. Army answered with 10 straight points and never trailed after Jean Parker's 3-pointer gave the visitors a 6-3 lead with 7:47 remaining in the first quarter.
Down 10-3, the Highlanders used 5-2 spurt to close the gap to 12-8, capped by two free throws from
Maria Ruban with 2:16 left in the opening quarter. Army then poured in seven straight points before Horton scored a conventional 3-point play on a layup and free throw that brought the score to 19-11, Army West Point, which is how the quarter ended.
The visitors, who outscored NJIT by at least 8 points in each of the opening three quarters, had their biggest period in the second quarter, outscoring the Highlanders 22-8 to build a 41-19 lead at the half.
Minato's 11 points were game-high after a half and Oertner and McNeal each added 6 points for the visitors. NJIT's top scorer in the first half was
Alana Dudley (5 points).
The Black Knights had a 19-9 advantage in the third quarter and headed into the fourth quarter on top 60-28. The fourth quarter was the closest (11-7 for Army), but the visitors took their biggest lead of the night when the score hit 64-28 on a jump shot by McNeal with 8:27 remaining in the game.
Army West Point matched the game-best 36-point bulge twice more, including 71-35 on the last score of the game by Margaret Anne Hubbell with 2:04 left.
With exams coming next week, the Highlanders won't play again until Sunday, December 20 at 2 pm, when they host Vermont in the Fleisher Athletic Center.
