Despite losing the Patriot League Championship, the Army Black Knights women’s basketball season continues with an appearance in the WNIT. This appearance rewards a season in which the Black Knights went 24-7 and 14-4 in Patriot League play.
With the invitation, Army will make its third appearance in the WNIT, having previously appeared in the 2013 and 2015 seasons. The Black Knights lost in the first round to Fordham in 2013 to end a 22-9 season. Two years later, Army lost to St. John’s from the Big East to end a 23-8 campaign.
The Bryant Bulldogs await the Black Knights in the first round this time around. The Bulldogs finished 17-14 with a 9-7 record in America East. Their weak offense plays to Army’s stifling defense. The Black Knights boasted the 23rd-best scoring defense in Division I, allowing 56.1 points per game. Bryant’s offense struggled this year, finishing 314th out of 353 teams at 58 points per game.
The Black Knights also have a much more balanced scoring attack featuring three players who averaged over 10 points per game — Trinity Hardy, Reese Ericson, and Fiona Hastick. Bryant only had one scorer averaging double digits, Mia Mancini. The Bulldogs struggled mightily from beyond the three point line, shooting below 30% as a team. However, Mimi Rubino is their secret weapon, with an over 40% rate from beyond the arc on 72 attempts. Camryn Tade looks to match Rubino for Army, with a 39% mark on 89 attempts. The Bulldogs’ high turnover rate of 17.1 per game, 241st in the country, also benefits Army.
While the stats skew in Army’s favor, the Black Knights face a daunting task visiting Bryant. The Bulldogs finished 10-3 at home. Luckily, Army is 11-4 on the road and shares common victories over New Hampshire and the New Jersey Institute of Technology with Bryant.
The Black Knight Women’s Basketball Team has a real chance here to end a long postseason drought with a win. Army last won a postseason women’s basketball win came way back in the 1988 NCAA Tournament… the Division II Tournament. A win over Bryant would be a monumental step for the program, being their first Division I postseason win ever. With that, the Women can build substantial momentum for the 2025-26. But they have to start by taking care of Bryant in this first round of the WNIT.
Go Army! Beat Bryant!!!
