BOSTON (Interstat) — The Army women’s basketball team used a dominant first half to build a substantial lead and then withstood a determined second-half rally by Boston University to secure a 69-62 victory in a Patriot League contest Wednesday night at Agganis Arena.

The Black Knights, who entered the game with an 84.3 percent win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system, improved to 19-5 overall and solidified their position near the top of the conference standings. The Terriers fell to 7-17.

The most important part of the game was Army’s early establishment of control, which created a deficit Boston University spent the remainder of the evening trying to overcome. The Black Knights opened the game on a 9-0 run, highlighted by a Taylor Wilson 3-pointer and a Brooke Wilson layup, and never trailed. They led 18-11 after the first quarter and extended that advantage to 38-24 by halftime. Army’s defensive pressure was pivotal in the first half, forcing nine Boston University turnovers which they converted into 15 points. The Terriers, by contrast, managed just two points off Army’s two first-half turnovers.

Army’s offensive efficiency in the opening 20 minutes was stark, posting an offensive rating of 118.8 points per 100 possessions compared to Boston University’s 106.7 for the game. The Black Knights also capitalized on second chances, grabbing 10 offensive rebounds to the Terriers’ four, which led to a 14-2 edge in second-chance points for the game.

Boston University emerged from the locker room with renewed energy after the break. The Terriers outscored Army 18-13 in the third quarter, fueled by the outside shooting of Inés Monteagudo, who hit two of her game-high four 3-pointers in the period. The Terriers continued to chip away in the fourth, closing the gap to as few as five points on multiple occasions in the final minutes. A 3-pointer by Anastasiia Semenova with 33 seconds remaining cut Army’s lead to 66-62, applying significant pressure.

However, Army’s backcourt duo of Reese Ericson and Camryn Tade proved too steady down the stretch. After Semenova’s three, the Black Knights effectively managed the clock and forced Boston University to foul. Tade, a guard from Southlake, Texas, calmly sank three of four free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the victory. Ericson, a guard from Lake Oswego, Oregon, led all scorers with 19 points, including five 3-pointers, while Tade added 17 points and four assists.

For Boston University, the international trio of Monteagudo (Valencia, Spain), Semenova (St. Petersburg, Russia), and Bella McLaughlin (Hampden, Maine) provided the bulk of the offense. Monteagudo scored 15 points, all from beyond the arc, Semenova added 14 points, and McLaughlin finished with 14 points and a game-high seven assists. The Terriers shot a remarkable 52.9 percent from 3-point range but were undone by 14 turnovers and Army’s superior work on the glass and in creating extra possessions.

Army’s Kya Smith, a forward from Lubbock, Texas, filled the stat sheet with seven points, six assists and a game-high three steals, facilitating the offense and anchoring the defensive effort. Taylor Wilson contributed 10 points and was active defensively with three steals and a block.

The game was a season sweep for Army, which also defeated Boston University 64-57 on Jan. 10 in West Point. The Black Knights have now won three straight games and seven of their last eight. Boston University has lost three consecutive contests.

Army next hosts American on Saturday, while Boston University travels to face Bucknell, also on Saturday.