March 4, 2006
Box Score
WEST POINT, N.Y. - The trio of Cara Enright, Stefanie Stone and Alex McGuire combined for 58 of Army's 73 points as the top-seeded Black Knights downed No. 5 Colgate 73-55 in the semifinal round of the 2006 Patriot League Tournament Saturday afternoon at Christl Arena. With the victory, the Black Knights (19-10) will host No. 2 Holy Cross in the championship game on Wednesday, March 8, at West Point. The Crusaders edged No. 3 Bucknell, 64-60, in Worcester, Mass.
Army, which ran its home winning streak to 11 games, advances to the championship game of the tournament for the third time in its 16-year existence in the Patriot League. The Black Knights last played for the tournament crown in 2003 as the No. 6 seed.
Enright and Stone accounted for 14 of the Black Knights first 17 points as Army led, 17-6, at the 14:19 mark. Army had begun the contest with six straight points before Colgate got on the board at the 18:31 mark.
The Black Knights jumped out to their largest advantage of the first stanza, 20-8, with 11:48 remaining in the half after Margaree King converted the front end of a one-and-one. Colgate trimmed the lead down to six on two occasions during the next four minutes, the last coming at the 7:34 mark, 22-16. Caitlin Gillard and Melanie Cargle each had four points during the 8-2 run for the Raiders.
Army padded its lead to double digits for the final time in the first half, 28-18, with 5:34 left to play in the half, and Army took a 30-23 advantage into the locker room.
Enright led all scorers at the half with 12 points, while McGuire added 11 points.
Army came out and scored the first two buckets of the second half forcing Colgate to call a timeout at the 18:42 mark. The Raiders responded with 8-2 run during the next 2:25, narrowing Army's advantage to 36-31 the closest Colgate had been within since the 16:31 mark in the first half.
The Raiders were called for their seventh foul at the 12:19 mark in the second half putting Army in the bonus, and the Black Knights reached the double bonus with 8:46 remaining in the contest. Army was 13-of-16 from the foul line down the stretch.
The teams traded baskets until Army pulled away at the 8:32 mark on a 13-2 run during the following 4:28, taking its largest lead of the contest, 65-45.
Enright finished with a game-high 27 points on 11-14 shooting to go along with a game-high 10 boards for her first double-double this season. Her scoring effort was two off her season-high. Stone contributed 18 points, including a perfect 8-8 from the foul line, and registered double figures for the 11th time this season. McGuire reached double figures for the 18th time in her last 19 outings with 13 points, including Army's lone three-pointer of the contest.
The Black Knights held a decisive edge at the charity stripe, cashing in on 30 of their 38 opportunities, overshadowing Colgate's impressive 14-16 effort.
Colgate's Caitlin Gillard and Melanie Cargle registered 13 points apiece in the losing effort.
