Air Force Academy
Bucknell
Falcons Fall to Bucknell, 85-69
1/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 2, 2003
The Air Force women's basketball team got off an inauspicious start to the new year, falling to Bucknell University, 85-69. The Falcons fell behind by nearly 30 points before making a furious comeback in the game's final minutes. The comeback attempt fell short however, as the Falcons fall to 5-5 overall with the loss.
The game remained close most of the first half until Bucknell's Kate Franks took over. With the Falcons leading 23-22 midway through the half, Franks nailed a three-pointer to give the Bisons the lead. Franks would go on to make 5-of-6 from downtown to lead Bucknell to an 18-point advantage. The Bisons went on a 23-4 run to close out the half and would lead 45-27 at the break, thanks in part to 15 first-half turnovers by the Falcons.
The Falcons started the second half in a discouraging manner, turning the ball over on the opening in-bounds pass. On their first 10 possessions, they had six more turnovers and three missed shots, allowing Bucknell to extend its lead to 28 points. Yet the team was able to regroup, mounting a comeback that saw them cut the lead by more than half. In the end however, the Bucknell lead proved insurmountable.
Latoya Howell finished the game with a team-high 18 points, all coming in the second half. Shawna Neff added nine points, all coming on three-pointers, and led the team with six rebounds. The Falcons shot 29-for-68 (.426 percent) from the field. They had 11 steals and a season-high 27 turnovers.
All-American candidate Molly Creamer led all scorers with 30 points. Franks, who scored the 1,000th point of her career in the first half, finished the game with 24 points, while Kristin Valdner chipped in 12.
The Falcons continue their two-game road trip on Saturday, Jan. 4, when they play military rival Army. Tip off for that game is noon MST. They need just one win to break the Academy's Division I single season win record, which they tied at five with a win against Sacramento State.
