Final Stats

EASTON, Pa. ÃÆ'Æ’¢ÃÆ'¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡¬ÃÆ'¢Ã¢â€š¬Ã…â€Å" The Lafayette women's basketball team shot over 50 percent from the field in the third quarter and took a four-point lead into the fourth, but were unable to hold it as Army finished strong and ultimately claimed the 63-55 Patriot League victory on Wednesday night at Kirby Sports Center.

Lafayette was led by Anna Ptasinski's electrifying shooting performance off the bench as she knocked down a career-best five 3-pointers for 19 points, tying her previous career-high set earlier this season against Chattanooga back on Nov. 19. Seniors Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby and Ashley Lutz each had a solid impact on the game as Ottewill-Soulsby scored 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while Lutz tied her career-high in rebounds with 15.

What plagued the Leopards was Army's ability to run the floor as they used their quickness to generate quality looks close to the basket. Lafayette had 16 turnovers in the game and the Black Knights capitalized on that by scoring 22 points off of the Leopards' miscues.

It was a strong start for the Leopards' defense as they held the Black Knights, one of the top scoring teams in the conference, to just 30-percent shooting in the opening quarter. Lafayette clogged up the driving lanes and forced four turnovers, while also contesting the majority of Army's shots. However, Lafayette struggled on the offensive end as well, putting in just two of their first 15 attempts from the field.

Despite the early shooting woes, the Leopards carried a one-point advantage, 13-12, into the second quarter after closing out the first on a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor, including a three-point make by Ptasinski.

Shortly into the second, a pair of Aliyah Murray scores sparked a 10-3 run by Army, which put the Black Knights back on top, 24-20. The Army lead was at four, 26-22, before Nia Holland drove and put the ball in off the glass at the buzzer.

The Leopards came out of the locker room for the second half and immediately tied the game up before Ptasinski drilled back-to-back shots from deep to put the Maroon and White up 32-28. Ptasinski would catch fire in the third and tied her career-high in three-point makes after sinking her fourth three of the quarter to put the Leopards on top 40-38.

Entering the final quarter of action, Lafayette led by four, 44-40, but Army recaptured the advantage following three consecutive makes from deep by Daizjah Morris.

Army then turned to the leading scorer in the Patriot League, Madison Hovren, late and she scored on back-to-back possessions to give Army the 55-51 advantage. The sophomore led all scorers with 22 points.

A pair of makes by Alexis Santarelli and Ottewill-Soulsby ensued, knotting the score up at 55-55 with three minutes left to play.

That was where the Leopards would leave off on the scoring end though as the Black Knights iced the game and picked up the 63-55 conference win.

The Leopards will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 4 to host Boston U. in a Patriot League contest slated for 2 p.m.