ITHACA, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Army women’s basketball team used a dominant second half to defeat Cornell 76-52 on Tuesday night at Newman Arena. The Black Knights, who led 35-34 at halftime, held the Big Red to just six points in the third quarter to seize control. Army outscored Cornell 41-18 after the break. Camryn Tade led Army with 17 points and six assists. Reese Ericson also scored 17 points, and Taylor Wilson added 16 points and three blocks for the Black Knights, who improved to 8-2. Rachel Kaus scored a game-high 18 points for Cornell, which fell to 4-7. Paige Engels added 11 points. Army shot 50 percent from the floor in the second half while Cornell managed just 24 percent.

ITHACA, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Army women’s basketball team used a dominant defensive second half to pull away from Cornell and secure a 76-52 victory on Tuesday night at Newman Arena. In a game that was tightly contested for the first 20 minutes, the Black Knights held the Big Red to just six points in the pivotal third quarter, turning a narrow halftime edge into a commanding lead they would not relinquish. The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring eight ties and several lead changes. Both teams shot efficiently in the opening quarter, which ended knotted at 20. Cornell’s Rachel Kaus was a force early, scoring 10 of her team-high 18 points in the first period. Army’s offense, however, showed balance as Camryn Tade, Taylor Wilson and Reese Ericson all found early scoring opportunities. The Black Knights managed to carve out a slim 35-34 advantage by halftime, but the game’s complexion changed entirely after the break. Army’s defensive intensity ratcheted up, stifling Cornell’s offensive flow. The Big Red went nearly seven minutes without a field goal in the third quarter, missing 10 consecutive shots during one stretch and committing four turnovers. Army capitalized on every Cornell mistake. A 12-0 run, fueled by transition baskets and interior scoring from Reganne Reardon and Kya Smith, extended the lead to 49-38. The Black Knights outscored Cornell 16-6 in the quarter, holding the home team to 2-of-15 shooting from the floor. Taylor Wilson’s defensive presence was key, as the sophomore from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, recorded three of her game-high three blocks in the period to anchor the paint. The most important part of the game was undoubtedly Army’s third-quarter lockdown. Entering the half with only a one-point lead, the Black Knights emerged from the break with a renewed focus on the defensive end. Their ball pressure disrupted Cornell’s sets, and their communication on switches and help defense forced the Big Red into difficult, contested shots. This defensive stand provided the necessary cushion, allowing Army to play with confidence and control for the remainder of the contest. The Black Knights then put the game fully out of reach with a 25-point fourth quarter. Tade, a 5-foot-9 guard from Southlake, Texas, took over as the primary facilitator and scorer down the stretch, finishing with a team-high 17 points and six assists. Ericson matched Tade’s 17 points, including three 3-pointers, while Wilson added 16 points and three blocks. Reardon provided a crucial spark off the bench with 12 points. For Cornell, Kaus led all scorers with 18 points. Paige Engels added 11 points, and Clarke Jackson finished with 10. The Big Red struggled mightily from the perimeter and were unable to sustain their first-half offensive execution against Army’s persistent defense. Army improved its season record to 8-2 with the win, continuing a strong start that includes victories in five of its last six games. Cornell fell to 4-7 with the loss, its third consecutive defeat. The Black Knights finished with a slight edge in points in the paint, 38-36, and points off turnovers, 16-14, underscoring a game ultimately defined by defensive execution and converting opponent mistakes into points. The announced attendance was 123 at Newman Arena. Army’s next game is at home against Howard on Dec. 29. Cornell travels to face Stanford on Dec. 28. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Army entered the game with a 78.10 percent probability to win.

ITHACA, N.Y. (Interstat) — A surging Army women’s basketball team will look to extend its winning streak when it visits Cornell in a nonconference matchup Tuesday night at Newman Arena. The Black Knights (7-2) have won five of their last six, including a 64-61 victory over Massachusetts on Saturday. The Big Red (4-6) seeks to halt a three-game skid after a 68-47 home loss to Quinnipiac. Army’s success is fueled by forward Kya Smith, who is averaging a double-double over her last seven games. The standout posted 17 points and 15 rebounds in a win at Saint Peter’s last week and followed with 16 points and nine boards against UMass. Her consistent interior presence will challenge a Cornell defense allowing an average of 60.2 points per game. Cornell will counter with guard Rachel Kaus, its leading scorer in two of the last three contests. Kaus tallied 14 points and six rebounds against Quinnipiac and has been a bright spot during the team’s recent struggles. The Big Red has relied on tight defense in its wins, edging Le Moyne 52-51 in overtime and Siena 49-47. The Black Knights have shown balance, with Camryn Tade and Reese Ericson combining for 10 assists in the latest win. Army’s two losses came against power conference opponent Oregon and a narrow road defeat at Eastern Kentucky. Cornell’s schedule has been challenging, with four of its six losses coming by 10 points or fewer, including a two-point defeat at Pittsburgh. This game begins a tough stretch for the Big Red, which travels to Stanford later this month. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST. Army leads the all-time series 3-1, with the last meeting a 66-59 Black Knights victory in 2022.