Air Force Academy
Denver
Women's Basketball Drops Season Opener to Denver, 79-47
11/16/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 16, 2001
Denver, Colo. - A second-half scoring drought cost the Air Force women's basketball team a chance of upsetting intrastate rival Denver. The Falcons scored just six points in the first 10 minutes of the second half, as the Falcons lost their season opener to the Pioneers, 76-47.
"We had a solid effort in the first half, but we didn't play for 40 minutes," said head coach Ardie McInelly. "We couldn't sustain our intensity. I wonder if they weren't surprised to be in the game. We need to instill a new attitude in our players so they expect to be in every game."
The Falcons trailed by as few as three points late in the first half, but momentum shifted permanently in the direction of Denver as the Falcons had trouble scoring in the second half. Denver opened the stanza with a 20-4 run in the first five minutes, and Denver outscored Air Force 41-18 in the second half. The Falcons committed 28 total turnovers in the game.
The Falcons finished the game 16-of-61 from the field for a shooting percentage of .262. Freshman Latoya Howell and Amoy Jackson led the team in scoring with 10 points apiece. Jackson had seven rebounds to lead the Falcons on the boards.
The Falcons (0-1) will be back in action on Sunday, Nov. 18, when they host Texas Christian. It will be the team's second straight game against a 2000-01 NCAA tournament team.
