<p>For: Immediate Release
Sent: January 21, 2007
Contact: Scott Strasemeier (410) 293-8775</p>
<p>Navy Women Stun Army, 49-44</p>
<p>WEST POINT, N.Y -- Kate Hobbs scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Navy (8-10, 3-2 in the Patriot League) to a stunning 49-44 victory over Army (17-3, 4-1 in the Patriot League) in front of 4,036 fans at Christl Arena. It was Hobbs' first game in double figures since scoring 12 points against UMBC on Dec. 6. </p>
<p>Army, the defending Patriot League Champions, were off to their best start in program history and entered today’s contest with a 12-game winning streak, the fifth longest winning streak in the country. The Black Knights had won the previous five games against Navy.</p>
<p>"Tonight’s win was important for us, not just because it's a rivalry game but there are a lot of teams bunched near the top of the standings," said Navy head coach Tom Marryott. "A lot of our struggles this year have been on offense, specifically turnovers, but we did a nice job in the second half of limiting those turnovers and getting good looks at the basket."</p>
<p>"Give Navy a tremendous amount of credit," said Army head coach Dave Magarity. "They did a great job of taking it inside on us and capitalizing on our lack of size. Hobbs killed us inside. It was one of those nights where we couldn't throw the ball in the ocean. We missed shots we normally make. Navy out executed us and did a great job. We didn't play great, but we didn't play horrible either."</p>
<p>Navy won the game by controlling the tempo and shutting down Army's top two players, Cara Enright (17 ppg) and Alex McGuire (11 ppg). </p>
<p>Enright was held to 13 points on 5-12 shooting from the floor, while McGuire, who was held to eight points, made just three of her 13 field goal attempts and none of her four three-point field goal attempts.</p>
<p>Navy trailed 24-23 at the half, but started the second stanza by scoring the first nine points to take a 32-24 lead with 15:12 remaining. </p>
<p>The Mids expanded the lead to 10 points at 38-28 with 12:53 remaining on back-to-back three-point field goals by Kalen Kropa and Emily Cordle. </p>
<p>The three-point field goal by Kropa was her first since making a three-pointer at Charleston Southern on Dec. 20, while Cordle's three-pointer was just her second of the year on 14 attempts.</p>
<p>Army, however, would battle back to tie the game at 44 on a lay-up by Enright with 2:14 remaining. </p>
<p>After a 30-second timeout by Marryott, the Mids worked the ball inside to Hobbs, who made a nice move inside and connected off glass at the shot clock buzzer to give Navy the lead back for good at 46-44. </p>
<p>"I knew when I got the ball I was way off the block, but I saw the shot clock was winding down so I knew I had to go to the basket," said Hobbs. "After I shot it I heard the buzzer go off and I wasn't sure if they would count it or not."</p>
<p>After a defensive stop by the Mids, Kropa drove the baseline and hit a lay-up to give Navy a 48-44 lead with 20 seconds left. Margaret Knap made one of two free throws to provide the final margin.</p>
<p>Lindi Conner and Knap added eight points apiece for the Mids, while Kropa scored seven points, handed out three assists and turned the ball over just one time in 40 minutes.</p>
<p>With the win the Mids moved into a third-place tie with American, just a game behind Bucknell and Army. The Mids and Eagles will battle on Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. in Washington, D.C.</p>