Air Force Academy
Army
Falcons Fall at the Buzzer to Army, 72-69
1/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 4, 2003
Army's Mallory Fritz nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to give Army a 72-69 victory over the Air Force women's basketball team. The game looked to be heading into overtime before Fritz hit an amazing shot at the top of the three-point line. The Falcons have lost three consecutive games, falling below .500 for the first time this season.
The Falcons defense started strong, holding Army without a point in the game's first five minutes, as Air Force took the early six-point lead. Air Force maintained its advantage throughout the first half, leading by as much as nine points. Army made a spur at the end of the half to tie the score, but the teams headed into the break with the Falcons leading 33-30.
Army grabbed its first lead of the game at the 18:23 mark of the second half. Beyond that point, it was a see-saw battle, with eight lead changes and five ties. After falling behind by four points, the Falcons went on a small run to take a five-point lead with 4:10 remaining. Army battled back and tied the score with two minutes left in the game.
With 47 seconds left and the game tied 67-67, Katie Macfarlane knocked down two clutch free throws to give Army the lead. With 11 seconds remaining, the Falcons missed consecutive shots in the paint before freshman Briana Thomas was fouled. She nailed two free throws to tie the score. Fritz would then knock down her game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to give Army the victory.
Air Force finished the game shooting 25-for-60 (.417) from the field. They out-rebounded Army 39-36, and notched 13 steals and 22 turnovers. Shawna Neff led all players in scoring with 17 points. Latoya Howell added 13 points and nine assists, while Emily Gross chipped in a season-high 11 points. Wendy Stillman added 11 points and led the Falcons in rebounding with seven boards.
Amy Saal notched a double-double for the Knights, with 13 points and 11 rebounds. MacFarlane added a team-high 14 points, while Fritz chipped in 12 points.
The Falcons continue their seven-game road stretch next week in Texas. In the team's final non-conference games of the season, they take on Texas Pan American on Thursday, Jan. 9, followed by Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Saturday, Jan. 11. The team needs just one win to break the Academy's Division I record for wins in a season.
