SCORCHING SMITH
    Junior forward Halee Smith is shooting a team-high 48.6 percent from three-point range and averaging 9.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 1.4 apg. The Biology major has improved her three-point shooting 19 percent from her sophomore campaign. The Alexandria, Pa. native is also shooting at a 87.5 percent clip from the foul line.

SCOUTING ARMY
    The Black Knights currently hold a 3-7 record after winning their last game 87-52 against Five Towns College. Head coach Missy Traversi is in her third season after being appointed the program's head coach in 2021.
    Wednesday's game marks the 71st meeting between the two programs.  
    Trinity Hardy and Reese Ericson have been Army's leading scorers this season, averaging 10.5 and 10.3 ppg respectively. Ericson also leads the team in assists per game, averaging 2.6 each contest.
    As a team, the Black Knights are averaging 59.0 ppg while allowing opponents 65.8 ppg through 10 games. In the team's last game against Five Towns College,  Ericson led the offense with 25 points, while freshman Lauren Lithgow added 14 points.  As a team, Army shot 40.3 percent from the field, 41.7 percent from downtown and 55.6 percent from the line.  

LAST TIME OUT
    Senior guard Makayla Andrews and junior forward Halee Smith erupted for a combined 35 points in the team's 57-55 win over Dartmouth on Dec. 21. The Leopards shot an efficient 80 percent from the charity stripe, which proved to be crucial down the stretch.
    Andrews sealed the team's fifth win of the season with three clutch free throws with 12 seconds remaining in the game. 
    Both teams exchanged buckets early in the first quarter, but Lafayette grabbed its second lead of the game after senior forward Kayla Drummond (eight points) finished a tough layup assisted by freshman guard Grace Montgomery. Sophomore guard Sauda Ntaconayigize (eight points) tacked on three more points with under a minute to play. After 10 minutes, the Leopards held a 14-12 lead.
    Lafayette went on a 6-0 run to start the second quarter thanks to baskets by junior guard Kylie Favours (four points) and Andrews. The Big Green then responded with a 7-2 spurt which cut their deficit (22-21) to just one point with 1:25 to go. Two triples from Smith and Andrews gave the Maroon and White a 28-21 lead heading into the intermission.
    Coming out of halftime Smith kept cooking, scoring seven straight points for Lafayette. After a gritty offensive board and lay in by Andrews as well as a Smith floater, the Leopards grabbed their largest lead of the game (16) with 4:13 to go in the quarter. With one second left in the period, Nina Minicozzi cut Lafayette's lead to eight points after knocking down a triple. The Leopards led 42-34 after three quarters.
    In the fourth, Smith reclaimed a 10-point lead for Lafayette after draining a pull-up jumper to start the fourth quarter. The Big Green were down nine points (52-43) prior to going on a 8-2 run which brought them within three points of tying the game with 23 seconds left. After Dartmouth resorted to intentionally fouling, three clutch free throws by Andrews sealed the victory for Lafayette, 57-55.

PATRIOT LEAGUE OPENERS
    Since 1990, the Leopards are 9-23 in their Patriot League openers.

ANTOGNOLI AVERAGES
    Junior guard Abby Antognoli currently leads the Leopards in scoring (13.8), assists (3.7), free throw percentage (81.8) and steals per game (2.3). The Bay Head, N.J. native is also lighting it up from three-point range, shooting at a team-high 38.1 percent clip (40 or more attempts).  Antognoli currently ranks sixth amongst the top scorers in the Patriot League as well as fourth in assists, second in free throw percentage and second in steals.

SAME STARTERS
    Lafayette has used the same starting lineup for 9 of its 11 contests this season: guards Abby Antognoli, Makayla Andrews and Kylie Favours, forwards Halee Smith and Kayla Drummond. Sophomore guard Kay Donahue got the starting nod in the team's wins over UMBC and Dartmouth. 

INJURY REPORT
    Abby Antognoli returns to the court after missing the Dartmouth game.