Air Force Academy
Cal Poly Slo
Air Force Loses to Cal Poly, 76-55
12/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 4, 2003
The Air Force women's basketball team, playing Cal Poly in their third consecutive road game, failed in its fifth attempt to get the elusive first win of the season. In a game that was much closer than the lopsided final score would indicate, the Falcons suffered a disappointing 76-55 loss. The loss drops the team to 0-5 on the season.
Air Force opened the game with a 10-3 run. It would prove to be their largest lead of the game, as Cal Poly would get hot from beyond the arc. With less than two minutes remaining in the first half, the Falcons were clinging to a five-point lead when Jennifer Dooley nailed back-to-back three pointers to give the Mustangs the lead. Air Force would tie the score on two free throws and the teams headed to the locker rooms at the half with the score knotted at 27 apiece.
Cal Poly scored the first six points of the second half and never looked back. They held the advantage for much of the half before gradually pulling away. The Mustangs took taking their first double-digit lead with eight minutes remaining in the game. With just over four minutes left in the game, the Mustangs, leading 60-50, scored 10 straight points in a one-minute span to put the game out of reach.
The Falcons failed to capitalize on several opportunities under the basket - missing numerous lay ups and two-foot jumpers. They finished the game shooting 17-of-62 from the field (27.4 percent) and 1-of-14 from beyond the arc (7.1 percent). They were led in scoring by Letricia Castillo, who notched 13 points. Amoy Jackson added 11 points, while Shawna Neff had nine points. Dawn Higginbotham led the team on the boards with a career-high nine rebounds. The Falcons, who entered the game averaging 25 turnovers per game, tallied 26 turnovers.
Dooley led all scorers with 19 points. Sparkle Anderson added 14 points for the Mustangs, while Jessica Eggleston had seven rebounds and nine points. The Mustangs shot 54.8 percent (17-of-31) from the field in the second half.
Air Force will be back in action on Dec. 6 when they return home to take on Illinios-Chicago. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. MST. The Flames, who are 3-1 overall, are coming off a Thursday night win over Northern Illinois (70-61).
