Air Force Academy
Sacramento St
Falcons Defeat Sacramento State for Season's First Win
12/7/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 7, 2001
SACRAMENTO - Shawna Neff scored 14 points to lead the Air Force women's basketball team to a 72-48 victory over Sacramento State. It was the Falcons' first win of the season, snapping a 22-game losing streak which dated back to the final 15 games of last season.
"We are excited about getting our first win of the season," said head coach Ardie McInelly. "I wasn't pleased with how the team played the first half, but we had an awesome second half. The team came out fired up and ready to play in the second half and did a fantastic job. It was a great team effort and a great win for our program."
The game got of to an inauspicious start for the Falcons, as the team struggled from the field. Air Force missed its nine three-point attempts and finished the half shooting just 9-for-32 for .281 percent.
Despite the poor shooting, the Falcons led 16-8 midway through the first half before the Hornets went on a 14-1 run to take the five-point lead. The low-scoring half ended with the score tied at 22 apiece. Air Force regrouped at halftime, executing to near perfection. Air Force shot 48.6 percent in the half, outscoring the Hornets by 24 points.
Neff's 14 points was two shy of a career high, and marked the first time this season she finished in double figures in scoring. Amoy Jackson had a team-high six rebounds. Samantha Clifton also had a stellar game, scoring eight points, grabbing five rebounds and notching three assists.
Sacramento State was led in scoring by Lori Kerswell, who scored 17 points. Danielle Iceman finished with 13 points and Alyson Thurman notched eight. The Hornets out-rebounded the Falcons 46-41.
The Falcons will have two weeks to celebrate the victory before they play Cal State Fullerton at the Academy on Dec. 21. Air Force defeated the Titans 66-59 last season in Fullerton for its only road win of the season.
