Air Force Drops Season Opener to Denver, 72-56

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – The Falcon women's basketball team fell to the University of Denver, 72-56, in the 2020-2021 season opener, Wednesday evening in Clune Arena at the Academy. Air Force Point guard Briana Autrey-Thompson led the Falcons with a 25-point showing, marking a career-high performance for the junior out of Suffolk, Virginia.

Air Force shot 31-percent from the floor on the night, struggling to get the three-ball to fall as the team shot just 9-percent from deep (2-22). Autrey-Thompson, who played a game-high 31 minutes, bolstered the field goal percentages knocking down 50-percent from the field (8-16) with one three-pointer. Autrey-Thompson added three assists and a game-high four steals to her stat line while also hitting a game-high eight free throws. The Falcons' senior staff combined for 12 points while the newcomers tallied five between two freshman scorers.

Air Force career-rebounds leader Emily Conroe snagged six boards and three steals on the night while sophomore teammate, Nikki McDonald, snatched seven rebounds, five on the defensive side of the ball. The Pios out-rebounded the Falcons, 47-35, behind Tsimba Malonga who led Denver with a game-high nine rebounds. Denver's Meghan Boyd led the scoring charge with 20 points, shooting 48-percent from the field.

Denver held the lead for 36 minutes on the game; however, the Falcons rallied from a 19-point deficit late in the second quarter to trailing by just three points with 5:53 remaining in the fourth quarter. Denver knuckled down and closed the game on a 14-1 scoring run as the Falcons' energy dissipated into missed shots, missing their final eight attempts in the last five minutes of the contest.

Next up, Air Force travels north to Boulder, Colorado, to take on the CU Buffs at 2 p.m., Saturday, November 28, in the CU Events Center. Entry is not permitted; however, a live stream and radio broadcast will be provided.

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