Wednesday, December 4
USAFA, CO
6:30 PM MT
Air Force Academy
1-8,0-1Mountain West
63
vs
65
Wyoming
4-3,1-0Mountain West
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 24 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 65 |
| Air Force | 18 | 13 | 9 | 23 | 63 |
Photo by: Josh Armstrong
Air Force Rally Falls Short by a Bucket
12/4/2019 9:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Air Force women’s basketball dropped a 65-63 thriller to Wyoming in the MWC opener, Wednesday evening in Clune Arena
USAF Academy, Colo. - Air Force fell to Wyoming, 65-63, after a fourth quarter rally came up short by a bucket in the Mountain West Conference opener, Wednesday evening in Clune Arena. The Falcons, now 1-8 on the season, were led by Riley Snyder who dropped a game-high 20 points on the night. Wyoming improved to 4-3 on the season.
Snyder, who registered her second-straight 20-point performance, knocked down 8-17 attempts from the field (.471), and shot a perfect 2-2 from the free throw line to lead Air Force in shooting. Snyder has shot perfect from the line in seven games this season. The sophomore forward also led the Falcons with seven rebounds, tying her season-high mark.
Junior co-team captain Kaelin Immel scored seven points in each half to hit her season scoring average of 14 points. Immel, who now has 979 career points, also dished out a game-high five assists while snagging four rebounds. She averages 3.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game, and has scored double-figures in seven-of-nine games this season.
Sophomores Haley Jones and Cierra Winters were rocks in the Cowgirls' boots this evening as the pair picked off a game high two steals apiece while combining for 14 points and five rebounds. Winters had season-best performance, tallying six points off the bench to lead all Air Force subs in scoring. The Air Force bench outscored the Wyoming bench, 13-10.
Allyah Marlett, the Falcons' leading freshman scorer, tallied eight points on the night and collected four rebounds, hanging around her season averages. As a class, the freshmen combined for 12 points and seven rebounds.
Wyoming was led by sophomore forward Tereza Vitulova who registered a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Cowgirls shot exceptionally well in the first half, draining 71-percent from deep (5-7) and 63-percent from the field (17-27). Wyoming collected 37 rebounds to Air Force's 29, but also turned the rock over 14 times to the Falcons' 10.
The Falcons and Cowgirls took the court with hot hands as both teams shot well over 50-percent from the field on the quarter. Snyder scored the first six points for Air Force but Wyoming was able to match bucket-for-bucket. The Cowgirls shot 4-5 from the field by the first media timeout to build a four-point lead. Snyder responded with her first three-ball and ninth point to bring the Falcons within striking distance but the Wyoming three-ball was undeniable as the Cowgirls knocked down 4-5 from deep by the close of the quarter while shooting 77-percent from the field. Wyoming led 24-18 at the close quarter.
The Cowgirls continued to shoot lights out, opening the second quarter on a 5-2 run with the Falcons in pursuit. The Air Force defense began to apply pressure, forcing five Cowgirl turnovers in the second quarter. Cierra Winters dropped a personal season-high four points in the quarter, with one of the buckets coming off a Conroe steal. Following the media timeout, the Falcons shot 4-5 from the field to cut Wyoming's lead to six. Both teams closed the half on three-minute scoring droughts with Wyoming leading, 39-31. Air Force shot 48.3-percent from the field in the first half for the squad's best first-half shooting percentage this season.
Wyoming opened the second half on an 8-2 run while Air Force endured a four-minute scoring drought following a Marlett jumper early on. Shooting for both teams began to depreciate as Air Force was 1-6 from the field and Wyoming was 3-6 from the field by the five-minute mark in the third quarter. Kamri Heath and Immel brought the Falcons out of the doldrums, combining for five points to cut Wyoming's lead to 11 at the media timeout. Air Force closed the quarter on another scoring drought, racking up seven scoreless minutes while shooting 20-percent from the field on the quarter. The Cowgirls shot 50-percent from the field but missed all four three-ball attempts on the quarter.
The rally started early in the fourth quarter as the Falcons went on a 7-0 scoring run. Immel hit a jumper to cut the Cowgirls' lead to 12. Snyder, who was scoreless for 15 minutes of action spanning across the entire third quarter, followed up with a personal 5-0 scoring run to cut Wyoming's lead to nine. The Falcons outscored Wyoming, 13-6, at the fourth quarter media timeout (4:20), highlighted by two three-pointers.
Emily Conroe, who was otherwise quiet on the night, continued the rally as she was fouled beyond the arc and went on to drain all three free throws to bring Air Force within eight points. Marlett and Immel dropped a bucket apiece in back-and-forth action with the Cowgirls, but it was Nikki McDonald who made a critical strike from downtown to bring the Falcons within five points, 63-58, with 1:37 remaining in regulation.
Jones brought the Falcons within one three as she drew a foul on the shot, sinking the bucket, but missing the ensuing free throw. Jones' missed free throw was collected by Air Force and fed to Snyder who drew another foul while scoring the layup. Snyder went on to hit her free throw to bring the Falcons within two points of a tie.
Wyoming's Taylor Rusk was fouled soon after and headed to the line for bonus free throws with a chance to put the game away. Rusk, who shoots 28-percent from the free throw line this season, missed both shots. With the ball in their possession, the Falcons called a timeout and drew up a play but were unable to convert on two inbounding attempts, losing their final possession and the game.
Next up, the Falcons take flight for the first of a three-game road stint, continuing MWC action at Nevada, Saturday (Dec. 7) at 2 p.m. PT/ 3 MT in the Virginia Street Gym, Reno, Nev.
Snyder, who registered her second-straight 20-point performance, knocked down 8-17 attempts from the field (.471), and shot a perfect 2-2 from the free throw line to lead Air Force in shooting. Snyder has shot perfect from the line in seven games this season. The sophomore forward also led the Falcons with seven rebounds, tying her season-high mark.
Junior co-team captain Kaelin Immel scored seven points in each half to hit her season scoring average of 14 points. Immel, who now has 979 career points, also dished out a game-high five assists while snagging four rebounds. She averages 3.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game, and has scored double-figures in seven-of-nine games this season.
Sophomores Haley Jones and Cierra Winters were rocks in the Cowgirls' boots this evening as the pair picked off a game high two steals apiece while combining for 14 points and five rebounds. Winters had season-best performance, tallying six points off the bench to lead all Air Force subs in scoring. The Air Force bench outscored the Wyoming bench, 13-10.
Allyah Marlett, the Falcons' leading freshman scorer, tallied eight points on the night and collected four rebounds, hanging around her season averages. As a class, the freshmen combined for 12 points and seven rebounds.
Wyoming was led by sophomore forward Tereza Vitulova who registered a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Cowgirls shot exceptionally well in the first half, draining 71-percent from deep (5-7) and 63-percent from the field (17-27). Wyoming collected 37 rebounds to Air Force's 29, but also turned the rock over 14 times to the Falcons' 10.
The Falcons and Cowgirls took the court with hot hands as both teams shot well over 50-percent from the field on the quarter. Snyder scored the first six points for Air Force but Wyoming was able to match bucket-for-bucket. The Cowgirls shot 4-5 from the field by the first media timeout to build a four-point lead. Snyder responded with her first three-ball and ninth point to bring the Falcons within striking distance but the Wyoming three-ball was undeniable as the Cowgirls knocked down 4-5 from deep by the close of the quarter while shooting 77-percent from the field. Wyoming led 24-18 at the close quarter.
The Cowgirls continued to shoot lights out, opening the second quarter on a 5-2 run with the Falcons in pursuit. The Air Force defense began to apply pressure, forcing five Cowgirl turnovers in the second quarter. Cierra Winters dropped a personal season-high four points in the quarter, with one of the buckets coming off a Conroe steal. Following the media timeout, the Falcons shot 4-5 from the field to cut Wyoming's lead to six. Both teams closed the half on three-minute scoring droughts with Wyoming leading, 39-31. Air Force shot 48.3-percent from the field in the first half for the squad's best first-half shooting percentage this season.
Wyoming opened the second half on an 8-2 run while Air Force endured a four-minute scoring drought following a Marlett jumper early on. Shooting for both teams began to depreciate as Air Force was 1-6 from the field and Wyoming was 3-6 from the field by the five-minute mark in the third quarter. Kamri Heath and Immel brought the Falcons out of the doldrums, combining for five points to cut Wyoming's lead to 11 at the media timeout. Air Force closed the quarter on another scoring drought, racking up seven scoreless minutes while shooting 20-percent from the field on the quarter. The Cowgirls shot 50-percent from the field but missed all four three-ball attempts on the quarter.
The rally started early in the fourth quarter as the Falcons went on a 7-0 scoring run. Immel hit a jumper to cut the Cowgirls' lead to 12. Snyder, who was scoreless for 15 minutes of action spanning across the entire third quarter, followed up with a personal 5-0 scoring run to cut Wyoming's lead to nine. The Falcons outscored Wyoming, 13-6, at the fourth quarter media timeout (4:20), highlighted by two three-pointers.
Emily Conroe, who was otherwise quiet on the night, continued the rally as she was fouled beyond the arc and went on to drain all three free throws to bring Air Force within eight points. Marlett and Immel dropped a bucket apiece in back-and-forth action with the Cowgirls, but it was Nikki McDonald who made a critical strike from downtown to bring the Falcons within five points, 63-58, with 1:37 remaining in regulation.
Jones brought the Falcons within one three as she drew a foul on the shot, sinking the bucket, but missing the ensuing free throw. Jones' missed free throw was collected by Air Force and fed to Snyder who drew another foul while scoring the layup. Snyder went on to hit her free throw to bring the Falcons within two points of a tie.
Wyoming's Taylor Rusk was fouled soon after and headed to the line for bonus free throws with a chance to put the game away. Rusk, who shoots 28-percent from the free throw line this season, missed both shots. With the ball in their possession, the Falcons called a timeout and drew up a play but were unable to convert on two inbounding attempts, losing their final possession and the game.
Next up, the Falcons take flight for the first of a three-game road stint, continuing MWC action at Nevada, Saturday (Dec. 7) at 2 p.m. PT/ 3 MT in the Virginia Street Gym, Reno, Nev.
Team Stats
UW
USAFA
FG%
.509
.406
3FG%
.333
.375
FT%
.600
.833
RB
37
29
TO
14
10
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballStacy McIntyre and Keelie O'Hollaren Post Game vs Northern Colorado
Thursday, March 19
Falcons fall in the first round of the WNIT to Northern Colorado
Thursday, March 19
Stacy McIntyre and Player POST SDSU
Tuesday, March 03
Falcons drop the final home game of the year to the Aztecs
Tuesday, March 03
