Army 69, Holy Cross 68

3/8/2006 11:57 PM

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) - Stefanie Stone knew all she had to do was hit her free throws and Army would be going to the NCAA tournament for the first time.

Stone missed the first but sank the second with 8 seconds left Wednesday night, giving the top-seeded Black Knights a 69-68 win over Holy Cross in the championship of the Patriot League tournament.

``I was shaking just a little bit,'' Stone said. ``But for the second one I just took a deep breath. I tell myself before I shoot each foul shot that I'm going to make it. I wasn't thinking about anything else.''

Laura Aloisi tried a last-second drive for Holy Cross, but her layup caught the underside of the backboard.

Hundreds of camouflage-clad cadets stormed the court to celebrate the win for first-year coach Maggie Dixon, younger sister of Pittsburgh men's coach Jamie Dixon. The Black Knights (20-10) returned to Division I play in the 1990-91 season.

Holy Cross (16-14) was playing for its 12th Patriot League title in coach Bill Gibbons' 21 years with the Crusaders. Holy Cross reached the NCAA tournament last year with a win in the tournament championship.

Stone set up her winning shot with a steal, cutting off a pass from Aloisi to Brittany Kiel near the top of the key.

``It's a tough cut because they can definitely blindside you because you're cutting up from the middle and you think your defender could be behind you or she could be shooting the passing lane,'' Kiel said. ``I just didn't see her.''

Stone missed a layup as she was fouled by Keil, sending her to the free-throw line with the game tied 68-all.

Holy Cross led 58-48 with 7:49 remaining on Jessica Conte's 3-pointer from the left side. But the Black Knights went on a 15-2 run over the next 4 minutes to take a 63-60 lead as Margaree King pulled up for a 10-foot jump shot.

There were four lead changes in the final 2 minutes. The Crusaders led 67-66 with 59 seconds remaining on Conte's 10-foot baseline jumper. But Alex McGuire hit two free throws for a 68-67 Army lead. Kaitlin Foley tied it 68-68 by hitting the first of two free throws.

McGuire scored 18 points, King added 12 and Stone had 11 with eight rebounds to lead Army.

Foley had 17 points with 10 rebounds, while Keil scored 16 points for Holy Cross.