WEST POINT, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Army women’s basketball team used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away from Loyola Maryland and secure a 61-48 Patriot League victory on Wednesday night at Christl Arena.

The Black Knights, improving to 21-5 overall and solidifying their position atop the conference standings, turned a narrow four-point halftime lead into a commanding 54-37 advantage by outscoring the Greyhounds 22-15 in the pivotal third period. The Greyhounds fell to 11-15 with the loss.

Army’s offensive execution after halftime proved decisive. The Black Knights shot efficiently in the quarter, sparked by forward Reganne Reardon of Chicago, who scored nine of her team-high 16 points during the frame. Her turnaround jumper with 2:30 remaining in the third gave Army its largest lead to that point at 48-37, capping a 10-2 run that effectively broke the game open.

Loyola Maryland, which had kept pace in the first half behind the interior play of Lex Therien, could not mount a response. The Greyhounds managed only eight points in the final quarter, shooting a frigid percentage from the floor as the Black Knights defense tightened.

Therien, a 6-foot-1 junior from Marlton, New Jersey, led all scorers with 16 points for Loyola Maryland, while adding three assists. Koi Sims of Glen Burnie, Maryland, contributed 12 points and three assists. Their efforts inside helped Loyola Maryland edge Army in points in the paint, 30-28, but the Greyhounds’ 13 turnovers, leading to 13 Army points, proved costly.

Army showcased a balanced attack. Alongside Reardon’s 16 points, guard Kya Smith of Lubbock, Texas, orchestrated the offense with 14 points and five assists. Brooke Wilson of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, added nine points and three assists, and Camryn Tade of Southlake, Texas, chipped in 10 points.

The game began as a defensive struggle, with Army holding a 13-8 lead after one quarter. The Greyhounds found their rhythm in the second quarter, pouring in 17 points to close the gap. A layup by Kimmie Hicks of Annapolis, Maryland, who finished with 11 points, just before the halftime buzzer sent Loyola Maryland into the break trailing 32-28 and with momentum.

That momentum vanished in the third quarter. Army opened the second half with a quick 7-2 spurt, highlighted by a Reese Ericson three-pointer and a Camryn Tade layup, to push the lead to nine. Loyola Maryland’s Therien answered with a hook shot and a jumper to keep her team within striking distance, but Army’s Reardon took over midway through the period. She scored seven consecutive points for the Black Knights during their decisive run, which included a three-pointer and a pair of mid-range jumpers, to stretch the lead to double digits for good.

The Greyhounds never threatened in the fourth quarter, as Army’s defense limited them to 3-of-13 shooting from the field. The Black Knights also controlled the glass down the stretch, securing key defensive rebounds to stifle any chance of a Loyola Maryland rally.

The victory was Army’s second this season over Loyola Maryland, having also won 71-66 in Baltimore on Jan. 7. It also continued a strong campaign for the Black Knights, who entered the game with a 94 percent probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system. Loyola Maryland, meanwhile, has now lost two of its last three games.

An announced crowd of 678 at Christl Arena watched the Black Knights maintain their perfect home record in Patriot League play.

Army looks ahead to a key conference matchup against service academy rival Navy on Saturday. Loyola Maryland returns home to host Colgate on Sunday.