Air Force Academy
UNLV
Air Force Falls To UNLV, 72-58
2/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 25, 2007
Las Vegas, Nev. - With just one more regular season game remaining, the Air Force women's basketball team dropped a 72-58 contest to UNLV Sunday afternoon in Cox Pavilion. The Falcons fall to 5-21overall, 1-14 in the Mountain West Conference, while the Lady Rebels improve to 11-14, 5-8 in the MWC.
Air Force led early in the game, going up 11-4 following a three-point basket by sophomore Brooke Cultra (Onarga, Ill.). However, UNLV eventually took the lead after putting together a 10-2 run. Although the Falcons were able to get back on top, the Lady Rebels regained the advantage with five minutes remaining and did not trail again. With a pair of three-point shots in the final few minutes, including one at the buzzer, UNLV went into the locker room with a 33-27 lead.
The Falcons cut the margin to four points early in the second half, but could get no closer, as the Lady Rebels shot over 50 percent in the final period. UNLV gradually extended its advantage, leading by as many as 15 points before taking the final 72-58 victory.
Air Force had a slight advantage on the boards, outrebounding UNLV, 38-37, and recorded a season-high 10 blocks, including four by sophomore Kim Kreke (Salem, Ill.). However, the Falcons committed 21 turnovers in the contest, compared to just 12 for the Lady Rebels.
Senior Jacki Novak (Kewaunee, Wis.) led the Falcons with 13 points in the game, while Alecia Steele (Jr., Oklahoma City, Okla.) added 12 points and eight rebounds. Also scoring in double figures for Air Force was senior Dawn Higginbotham (Colorado Springs, Colo.), finishing with 10 points. Meanwhile, Sequoia Holmes led the Lady Rebels with 21 points in the game.
The Falcons close out the regular season on Wednesday, Feb. 28, when they travel to Laramie, Wyo., to face Wyoming in a 7:00 p.m. contest.
