Air Force Academy
Nevada
Air Force With Close Setback To Nevada
1/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force women's basketball dropped a 56-51 contest to Nevada (7-10, 1-5) in a Mountain West contest Wednesday night at Clune Arena. The Falcons were led by a record-breaking performance from freshman Kassady Huffman and another double-double by Dee Bennett.
The Falcons held a one point lead at 49-48 with 2:05 to play, but could not maintain it. A.J. Cephas hit back to back buckets to put Nevada ahead 52-49. After a jumper by Huffman pulled the Falcons to within two points, the Wolf Pack put the game away with a layup by Terae Briggs and a pair of free throws by Riana Everidge. The Falcons were unable to answer back after Huffman's basket.
Air Force had three players in double-figures scoring. Junior Cortney Porter led the team with 12 points, adding five rebounds and three assists. Bennett notched a double-double for the second-straight game, scoring 10 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Huffman also reached double-figures with 11 points and eight rebounds. The freshman from Colorado Springs blocked six shots on the night, setting a new school record in the Div. I era.
Everidge led Nevada with 17 points, adding eight rebounds. Briggs scored nine points and pulled down 10 rebounds. T Moe scored 11 points on just two shots attempts. The guard had 11 of 14 free throw attempts.
In a game that was called tightly by the refs, the teams combined for 43 fouls and 52 free throw attempts. Air Force did a solid job defensively, holding the Pack to just 14 field goals and 26.9 percent shooting on the night. Nevada got to the free throw line 34 times however, making 26 of them. Air Force also struggled on the boards, getting out-rebounded by Nevada 49-34.
After a sluggish start, the Falcons rallied back to lead after three quarters. Air Force trailed 14-8 after the first quarter. The Falcons out-scored the Wolf Pack 14-9 in the second quarter to make it a 23-22 Nevada lead at the half. The third quarter fared well for Air Force, out-scoring Nevada 21-17 to take a 43-40 lead.
"The difference in the game was the boards and the free throws," Air Force head coach Chris Gobrecht said. "Aside from Dee Bennett, we did not rebound the ball very well tonight. We also did not shoot the ball well. If we can make a few more baskets, the wins will start coming."
Air Force returns to action Saturday, Jan. 21, hosting UNLV. Tip-off, at Clune Arena, is 4 pm MT. The game will be part of Special Olympics Colorado night. Friends and family of Special Olympics members can get a $2 ticket to the game if they mention Special Olympics at the box office upon entering Clune Arena.
