ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Coming off a career-best 21-point performance against the University of South Florida (USF) on Sunday, Dec. 21, Navy freshman Zoe Mesuch was selected as the most recent Patriot League Rookie of the Week and the Naval Academy Athletic Association Athlete of the Week.
The former Wallkill High girls basketball star led the Midshipmen in the road contest versus South Florida with 21 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the field, including 5-for-9 from beyond the 3-point arc.
Taking on a USF team that was picked first in the American Conference this preseason after winning the conference last year, Mesuch started fast with 13 points in the first half and continued to knock down shots as Navy drew even at 52-52 as late as 5:07 left in the third quarter.
The Mids trailed by just six points going into the fourth quarter until the Bulls pulled away for an 86-74 victory.
Navy freshman guard Zoe Mesuch of Wallkill High is photographed on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, during the Mids’ 69-54 upset victory over Florida at Alumni Hall at Annapolis, Maryland.
PHOTO PROVIDED
A three-time Freeman Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Mesuch also finished tied for the team-lead with three assists against USF.
This is the second Patriot League Rookie of the Week honor of Mesuch’s young career as she was previously selected the league’s top rookie on Nov. 17 following her efforts against Longwood and the University of Florida .
At the conclusion of Navy’s 11-game non-conference schedule, Mesuch stands second overall in the Patriot League with 2.5 made 3-pointers a game and is 15th in scoring with an average of 11.4 points per game.
Among all NCAA Division 1 players, her 3-pointers per game average is ranked 84th nationally.
Mesuch and the Mids (6-5) are on hiatus from the hardwood until Wednesday, Dec. 31, when they kick off the Patriot League season with a 2 p.m. game at Boston University.
The 5-foot-5 Mesuch has started all 11 of Navy’s games in her freshman campaign and is averaging 32.7 minutes per game.
Navy coach Tim Taylor recruited Mesuch as one of five highly-touted prospects from throughout the country for the 2025-26 season.
“She (Mesuch) is a dynamic, creative guard who is one of the best scorers and shooters in the entire 2025 class,” Taylor said. “The first thing that caught my eye was her ability to hang and finish shots against bigger defenders. Though what really separates her is her shooting range. Opponents have to account for her at all times when she is on the court.”
Mesuch tallied a school-record 2,174 career points as a dynamic playmaker for Wallkill High and head coach AJ Higby. She owns the scoring records for both boys and girls basketball players at Wallkill.
In her senior year, Mesuch averaged 27.3 points a game and earned her third straight Freeman Girls Basketball Player of the Year award. She was the Section 9 Class AA Player of the Year in 2024 and 2025.
Mesuch was also nominated for McDonald’s All-American status following her senior season.