How It Happened
Army had three cadet-athletes in double digits; Sam McNaughton led the team with 14 points, Sabria Hunter followed with 13, and Lauren Lithgow had 12 points.
The Black Bears acted first with Caroline Bornemann scoring on a three-point shot, followed by a layup by Paula Gallego, giving Maine an early 5-0 lead. Lithgow put Army on the board making a layup of her own. With 6:04 left on the clock, Army’s Lauren Lithgow cut the Black Bear’s lead to four after making a shot from beyond the arch. However, Maine’s Bornemann responded with a three pointer of her own, extending their lead to seven points. Army responded again with a three-point bucket from Natalie Rhine with 5:29 left in the first quarter. With a 15-8 lead, Rhine made her second three-point basket of the game, putting Army within four. At the end of the first, the Black Bears had a 23-16 lead.
In the second quarter, Army struck first with a layup from Hunter cutting the Black Knights deficit to five points. Gallego responded with a layup, giving Maine a seven-point lead. With 8:25 on the clock, Rhine stole the ball from the Black Bears, passed to Hunter, where she made a fast break layup. Maine had success with two three-point baskets, both from Jaycie Christopher, advancing their lead to 15. With 3:23 on the clock, Reese Ericson made a jump shot. With 19 seconds left, Bornemann hit a three-pointer extending the Black Bears lead to 45-25, going into halftime.
In the second half, neither team scored until McNaughton made one of her two free throws after being fouled by Maine’s Sera Hodgson at the 8:27 mark. Shortly after, McNaughton had a fastbreak jump shot off a Black Bears turnover. With 5:28 on the clock, Lithgow made a three-point basket, cutting the lead to 16 points. In response, with 5:06 left on the clock, the Black Bears answered with another 3-pointer from Bornemann. Sam McNaughton and Kamryn Hall both helped Army cut Maine’s lead after making both of their shots, McNaughton made a three with 4:17 left on the clock, followed by a jumper. Despite the effort, Maine held a 22-point lead going into the fourth quarter.
In the last quarter, McNaughton scored first with a jumper. Kamryn Hall also had a layup shot. With 7:27 left on the clock, after being fouled by Bornemann, Hall successfully scored two foul shots. Army continued to chip away at Maine’s lead making it a 74-52 game. With 49 seconds left, Maine’s Christopher made her seventh 3-pointer of the game, extending the Black Bears lead to 30. The University of Maine Black Bears defeated the Black Knights 88-60 after Sam McNaughton made two free throws, with 33 seconds left in the game.
Inside the Box
- Sam McNaughton had a season high of 14 points, 1 rebound and, 1 assist.
- Sabria Hunter finished the afternoon with 13 points and 5 rebounds.
- Junior Lauren Lithgow had 12 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal.
- Army was 19-27 from the free throw line.
The Black Knights return home to Christl Arena to face Eastern Kentucky University on Sunday, December 18 at 1 p.m.
For complete coverage of Army West Point women’s basketball, follow the Black Knights on Twitter @ArmyWP_WBB, on Instagram @armywestpointwbb, and online at www.goarmywestpoint.com.