Navy women’s basketball sent its three seniors out on a winning note in their final regular-season home game. In the process, the Midshipmen moved closer to assuring another game at Alumni Hall in the Patriot League Tournament.
Freshman guard Zanai Barnett-Gay scored 23 points on 9-for-15 shooting and also dished off five assists as Navy routed American, 73-57, on Saturday in front of 1,065 fans at Alumni Hall. Senior forward Sydne Watts scored 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting for the Mids, who took a double-digit lead late in the third quarter then extended it in the fourth.
Freshman guard Kyah Smith made three 3-pointers in netting 14 points for Navy (12-16, 8-9), which can finish with a .500 record in the conference by beating Bucknell in the regular-season finale.
Sophomore guard Maren Louridas had a strong all-around game with eight points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Mids, who can finish no lower than eighth in the Patriot League and possibly as high as fifth.
If Navy places seventh or eighth, it would host a home game in the first round. If the Mids move up to fifth or sixth, they would get a first-round bye and be on the road in the quarterfinals.
“We knew this game today was going to guarantee us, worst scenario, eighth place. I’d love to get to the fifth or sixth spot,” Navy coach Tim Taylor said. “I stayed away from talking about the standings all season until a week ago. Now the players know the situation.”
Watts was asked afterward about the possibility of playing another game at Alumni Hall in the postseason.
“That would be awesome. I honestly hope we get the bye in the first round. If we get another home game that’s fine, too, but I’d rather get the bye,” she said.
Watts and classmates Morganne Andrews and Sam Schofield were honored during a pregame ceremony. All three started even though they have been coming off the bench for the past few weeks.
Taylor reinserted all the seniors late in the fourth quarter when the game was no longer in doubt so he could bring them back out to receive a standing ovation. The fourth-year coach gave each of the seniors a huge hug as they came off the floor for the final time.
Andrews had a solid showing with four points, three rebounds and two blocked shots in 20 1/2 minutes of action. Schofield assisted on one of Barnett-Gay’s baskets in the first quarter.
Taylor has marveled at the perseverance of Andrews, Schofield and Watts, who dealt with lockdowns and isolation in Bancroft Hall as well as canceled games because of COVID as plebes. They have dealt with four losing seasons, suffering through a 1-29 record as juniors.
“It’s a great way to send the seniors out and they all played extremely well,” Taylor said. “All the stuff they’ve been through with COVID and what happened last season, there could not have been a better ending for these seniors.”
Watts said it was “phenomenal and super-exciting to win on senior day.”
Senior forward Emily Johns scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds for American (9-19, 7-10), which came into the contest in a three-way tie for seventh place with Navy and Lehigh. Senior guard Anna LeMaster added 16 points for the Eagles, who have lost six straight.
Barnett-Gay provided the spark as Navy raced out to a 25-18 lead after one quarter, scoring 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting with three 3-pointers. Watts assumed the scoring mantle in the second, hitting six straight shots in scoring 13 points to help the Mids take their largest lead, 36-20, with 6:38 remaining.
“You saw in the first quarter that when the ball is moving we run good offense and get open shots,” said Taylor, who was pleased that Barnett-Gay’s six baskets came off “clean open looks and with assists.”
Taylor said Navy ran some plays especially for Watts in the second quarter and was pleased to see her make contested jumpers. “Sydne was phenomenal in that second quarter,” he said.
Watts said she was shooting with confidence and believes her defense is carrying over to the other end of the floor.
“I put all my focus on the defensive end. It turns out if I stop thinking offensively the shots start going in,” the Georgia native said.
Johns amassed 14 points for American, which outscored Navy 14-2 over the final 5:49 to cut the deficit to 40-37 at halftime. Navy cooled off considerably in the final 6 1/2 minutes, missing five shots and committing five turnovers.
The Midshipmen’s offensive struggles carried over into the third quarter as they made just 2 of 8 shots to start. A driving layup by Louridas got the home team going and Barnett-Gay followed with a three-point play off a fastbreak.
Louridas drove, drew a defender and dished to Andrews for an easy layup then scored off a pull-up jumper in the lane. Smith followed with a pull-up jumper to give Navy a 55-44 lead after three quarters.
“I thought Maren’s floor game was really good. When they cut the lead down in the third quarter, we started going to Maren and she was driving and creating,” Taylor said.
That advantage grew to 17 points (65-48) after Smith hit a pair of 3-pointers from long range early in the fourth quarter.
“I think the biggest thing is that we held them to 20 points in the second half. We were getting out and challenging shots,” Taylor said. “I thought Toni and Maren were phenomenal defensively.”
Shortly after American reduced the deficit to two points in the third quarter, Barnett-Gay got shoved hard to the floor and no foul was called. Watts said the Navy players got together and vowed to get more physical the rest of the way.
“Our team gave its heart and soul and physically our bodies to the game today,” Watts said. “We were not going to let them push us around. We were all really motivated to fight for each other and give ourselves fully to the game.”
Regular-season finale
Navy at Bucknell
Wednesday, 6 p.m.
Stream: ESPN+
Radio: 1430 AM