Air Force cruises past UCCS in home win

USAFA, Colo.- Hosting local foe UCCS, Air Force managed to play one of its more all-around games of the new season, defeating the Mountain Lions 70-49 at Clune Arena.

Cierra Winters proved her worth on both sides of the floor, leading the Falcons with 17 points while sharing the team lead with five steals. The senior also recorded five rebounds and three assists. Winters' 17 points and seven made field goals both tie her career-highs, as the two milestones were previously set against Regis on December 2. The El Paso native is now averaging 3.6 steals per game, placing her among the top ten players in Division I.

Riley Snyder and Briana Autrey-Thompson also finished in double-figures for the Falcons as the two scored 14 and 11 points, respectively. Haley Jones again led Air Force with eight rebounds, as the veteran post player chipped in with five points, even knocking down her first three-pointer of the season late in the fourth quarter.

In spite of 21 turnovers, the Falcons were as sharp shooting the basketball as the group has all season. Air Force connected on 49% of its field goal attempts, the most efficient percentage the Falcons have posted in 2021. Seeing the basketball fall through the cylinder was contagious, with Air Force also finding success from long range. Chris Gobrecht's team made a season-high 47% of its attempts from behind the arc, with Audrey Gadison leading the Falcons in that category, knocking down three of her five attempts.

Among the nation's best in creating takeaways, the Falcons forced 26 turnovers and produced 18 steals, scoring 32 points directly off of turnovers. The aforementioned number of steals also ties a season-high for Air Force.

In contrast to games earlier this season, Air Force quickly found a successful offensive rhythm. Snyder buried both of her three-point makes, with Gadison finding her range as well en route to a 23-15 lead heading into the second quarter. Snyder and Gadison remained the focal point of the offense, with the two combining for 12 of Air Force's 15 second quarter points. The Falcons eventually carried a 38-25 lead into halftime.

The evening became Winters' in the second-half, as she scored 13 of her 17 points over the final 20 minutes of play. The Air Force lead ballooned to as much as 24 points early in the final quarter, though a 12-2 UCCS run midway through the fourth quarter did breathe some life into the away bench. However, the Falcons closed the game on a run of its own, outscoring the Mountain Lions 9-2 over the final three and a half minutes of regulation.

Next, Air Force will take advantage of a 10-day layoff before traveling to Dixie State on December 18. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 pm MT.

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Players Mentioned

Briana Autrey-Thompson

Audrey Gadison

Haley Jones

Riley Snyder