WEST POINT, N.Y. (Interstat) — On Monday, Army opened its women’s NCAA Division I basketball season with a commanding 81-28 home victory over St. Thomas Aquinas at Christl Arena. St. Thomas Aquinas, a non-divisional opponent, was the visiting team. Army moved to 1-0. The Black Knights controlled the game from the opening minutes and led throughout after an early tie. A crowd of 582 attended.

Army scored 23 points in the first quarter, 25 in the second, 12 in the third and 21 in the fourth. St. Thomas Aquinas scored 5 points in the first quarter, 9 in the second, 7 in the third and 7 in the fourth. The Black Knights outscored St. Thomas Aquinas in every quarter. Army scored at least 21 points in the first, second and fourth quarters while holding St. Thomas Aquinas to nine or fewer in each of the first three quarters. St. Thomas Aquinas managed only 14 points after halftime.

The decisive stretch came early. Bailey Chapman gave St. Thomas Aquinas a 2-0 lead with a layup 52 seconds into the game. Army answered with a flurry. Kya Smith tied the score with a jump shot, Taylor Wilson made the second of two free throws, and Camryn Tade and Fiona Hastick hit 3-pointers. Smith added two free throws, and after a Chapman jumper, Brooke Wilson and Reganne Reardon connected from beyond the arc. Smith then made a driving layup, and Hastick added another layup to push Army’s lead to 21-5. Abby Jacoby and Toni Schuetze made free throws for St. Thomas Aquinas, but Army had established control with perimeter shooting and baskets in transition. The run included baskets from six different Army players, and the Black Knights hit four 3-pointers in the opening quarter.

Army kept the pressure on in the second quarter. Hastick opened the period with a 3-pointer, Smith followed with a tip-in and a layup, and Sam Tillson made free throws. Reganne Reardon scored a jump shot and a layup. Jona Kabashi made a jump shot for St. Thomas Aquinas, and Alaila Thomas hit a 3-pointer. Smith answered with a layup, Audrey Annee made two free throws, Brooke Wilson hit a 3-pointer, and Smith made two free throws before halftime. Army’s defense continued to force difficult possessions, and the Black Knights went into the break with a large lead. Army’s defensive pressure produced turnovers and second-chance opportunities, and St. Thomas Aquinas struggled to score against the Black Knights’ size.

The third quarter brought more of the same. Camryn Tade made a jump shot, Kya Smith made a layup, and Brooke Wilson added a layup and a 3-pointer. St. Thomas Aquinas got a free throw from Jona Kabashi and a jumper in transition from Bailey Chapman. Tade hit another 3-pointer, and Audrey Annee made a 3-pointer. Tara Vulovic scored on a jumper off a turnover for St. Thomas Aquinas. Reganne Reardon made a jump shot, a free throw and a layup, Julia Sedora hit a 3-pointer, Kabashi made a jumper, and Chapman made two free throws to close the quarter. Army’s lead remained comfortable throughout the period.

In the fourth quarter, Abby Jacoby made a 3-pointer for St. Thomas Aquinas. Kelly Cramer answered with a tip-in, and Audrey Annee hit two 3-pointers. Rose Cok made a jump shot and two free throws for St. Thomas Aquinas, Cramer added a jumper, and Landry Sherrer closed the scoring with a driving layup. Army’s lead never came under serious threat in the second half, and the Black Knights’ reserves helped close out the win.

Army finished with 81 points from 67 possessions and an offensive rating of 120.7. The Black Knights had 10 offensive rebounds, 11 assists, two blocks and 11 turnovers.

Kya Smith, a 6-1 forward from Lubbock, Texas, led Army with 16 points, six rebounds and one assist in 18 minutes. Smith previously attended Coronado High School. Brooke Wilson, a 5-9 guard, added 13 points, three rebounds and four assists in 18 minutes. Wilson previously attended Archbishop John Carroll. Reganne Reardon, a 6-1 forward, finished with 12 points, two rebounds and two assists in 13 minutes. Reardon previously attended Saint Ignatius College Prep. Fiona Hastick, a 5-11 guard, contributed eight points, four rebounds and one assist in 18 minutes. Hastick previously attended Paul VI Catholic High School. Audrey Annee, a 5-9 guard, scored 11 points and grabbed two rebounds in 12 minutes. Kelly Cramer, a 5-8 guard, had four points, three rebounds, one assist and one block in 10 minutes. Camryn Tade, a 5-9 guard, posted eight points, one rebound and one assist in 18 minutes. Stella Chartrand, a 5-9 guard, had two rebounds and two assists in six minutes. Taylor Wilson, a 5-10 forward, recorded one point, five rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes. Sam Tillson, a 6-1 forward, added three points and two rebounds in 17 minutes.

St. Thomas Aquinas had its best moments in the second and third quarters but could not sustain them. Chapman scored on the opening layup and later added a jumper and two free throws. Jacoby made a free throw and a 3-pointer, Kabashi made a jump shot and two free throws, and Thomas hit a 3-pointer. Vulovic scored on a jumper off a turnover, and Cok made a jump shot and two free throws in the fourth quarter. Those plays trimmed the margin slightly, but Army’s lead remained secure.

Army’s next 10 games include a visit to Brown, home games against George Mason and Saint Thomas (Minn.), visits to Massachusetts, Siena, North Carolina and High Point, a home game against Binghamton, and trips to Air Force and Penn State.