Air Force Academy
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Falcons Lose to Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 65-59
12/31/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 31, 2001
The Air Force women's basketball team suffered a heart-breaking loss to the Golden Lionettes of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, losing 65-59 in a game that came down to the final minute of play.
Trailing by double figures with just over three minutes remaining, the Falcons mounted a furious comeback. Shawna Neff nailed a three-pointer with 2:06 remaining to pull Air Force to within three, 59-56. After two Lion free throws, Morgan Bennett drained a three-pointer to make the score 61-59 with 1:35 remaining. A tightened Falcon defense forced a 30-second violation on the next possession and Air Force had a chance to tie the score. Instead, the Lionettes forced a turnover and Air Force was forced to start fouling. Arkansas-Pine Bluff would sink four free throws down the stretch to secure the 65-59 victory.
The Falcons got off to a slow start, scoring just five points in the game's first 10 minutes. At the 10-minute mark of the first half, the Falcons saw themselves trailing 22-5. The team would regroup however, going on a 17-6 run, cutting the 17-point deficit to just six points. The Falcons finished the half trailing 35-24.
In the first six minutes of the half, the team committed six turnovers and scored just five points. The Lionettes stretched its lead to 13 points before the Falcons made a small run to pull to within five points of the lead. A missed field goal attempt that would have cut the deficit to three seemed to deflate the Falcons and momentum shifted in favor of Pine Bluff.
Three players finished in double figures for the Falcons, led by Amoy Jackson who had 11 points. Morgan Bennett and Shawna Neff each had 10 points. Jackson and Bennett each notched seven rebounds to lead the team, while Latoya Howell had five steals and four assists.
The game was foul-ridden with the teams combining for 48 fouls overall, the most in a game this season. UAPB's Khadijah Haqq was 14-of-14 from the charity stripe, leading all scorers with 25 points. Nikki Mooney added 11 points for the Lionettes.
The Falcons (2-9) next return to the Academy where they will play two service academies in their final two non-conference games of the season. They host Army on Jan. 3, followed by Navy on Jan. 5.
