WEST POINT, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a commanding performance fueled by a dominant inside presence and relentless defense, the Army women’s basketball team defeated New Hampshire 63-44 on Thursday afternoon at Christl Arena.

The Black Knights seized control early and never relented, improving their season record to 4-1. The Wildcats fell to 2-4 with the non-conference loss.

Army set the tone from the opening tip, building a 35-25 lead by halftime and extending it further with a 16-point third quarter. The Black Knights’ offensive efficiency was stark, scoring 63 points on just 66 possessions for an offensive rating of 95.0. New Hampshire, by contrast, managed only 44 points on 69 possessions, an offensive rating of 63.9.

The game was decided in the paint, where Army outscored New Hampshire 34-18, and on turnovers, where the Black Knights converted 19 points off Wildcat miscues. New Hampshire committed 22 turnovers in the game.

Kya Smith was the engine for Army, delivering a powerhouse performance with 18 points and 14 rebounds for a double-double. The 6-foot-1 sophomore from Lubbock, Texas, also added three assists, two blocks and two steals in 34 minutes of action.

She was complemented by a potent backcourt duo. Camryn Tade, a 5-foot-9 guard from Southlake, Texas, scored 14 points, while Taylor Wilson, a 5-foot-10 guard from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, added 15 points. Soleil Montrose came off the bench to provide 10 points for the Black Knights.

Army’s defense was suffocating, holding New Hampshire to 16-of-47 shooting from the floor. The Wildcats found some success from beyond the arc, hitting 6-of-13 attempts, but struggled to generate consistent offense inside.

For New Hampshire, Katie Ledden led the scoring with 10 points. Elizabeth Lavoie, from Derry, New Hampshire, contributed seven points and six rebounds, while Maggie Cavanaugh tallied five points, five rebounds and three assists.

A crowd of 597 watched as Army never trailed, opening the game on a 7-0 run that included a turnaround jumper and a 3-pointer from Smith. The Black Knights maintained a double-digit lead for the entirety of the second half, with the Wildcats unable to mount a significant challenge.

Army finished the game shooting 50 percent from the field and was efficient from the free-throw line, making 6-of-7 attempts.

Army next travels to face Saint Francis (PA) on Saturday. New Hampshire will look to rebound on the road at Brown on Tuesday.