Air Force Gives Up 62-54 Loss at Fresno State

FRESNO – Air Force was unable to hold onto a halftime lead, giving up a 62-54 loss to Fresno State, Thursday evening in the Save Mart Center. The Falcons drop to 4-13 with a 2-10 record in the Mountain West while the Bulldogs improved to 13-6, 11-3 MW.

Air Force was led by Briana Autrey-Thompson who scored a game-high 24 points, shooting a stellar 69-percent from the floor (11-16), coming up just a bucket short of her career high. Autrey-Thompson rounded out her performance with three boards, three assists and two steals.

Kaelin Immel got off to a strong start, draining 3-3 three-pointers in the first quarter. She finished with 10 points and an assist on the game. Senior teammate Emily Conroe snagged a game-high 11 rebounds and added two points to the final scoring tally. Redshirt senior Kassady Huffman was good for nine rebounds and five points.

Junior guard Audrey Gadison continued to perform as one of the Falcons' most prolific three-point shooters, draining two-of-four attempts from deep on the night.

Fresno State was led by twins Hanna and Haley Cavinder with 22 and 17 points, respectively. Haley finished with a team-high seven rebounds and three assists.

Air Force opened game two of the series playing ball they have always been capable of, building a six-point lead halfway through the first quarter, 13-7, pressuring head coach Jamie White to call a timeout and regroup.

Much to the chagrin of the Bulldogs, Kaelin Immel knocked down three-straight three-balls out of the timeout to build a 13-point lead with 3:00 remaining in the first. At the first quarter buzzer, the Falcons shot 71-percent from the field, earning a 26-16 advantage behind Autrey's 10 points and Immel's nine.

The second quarter was a more even showing as the red-hot Falcons lost a little steam on the scoring side of the ball. Air Force shooting dropped to 43-percent as the Bulldogs tried to creep back into the game. Audrey Gadison hit a three-ball in the final minute of the first half to lift the Falcons back to their 10-point advantage, 36-26. Fresno State's first half was the least productive they have had all season.

The Bulldogs clawed back into the game after the break with an 8-0 run, knotting the score at 39 halfway through the third quarter. By the end of the quarter, Air Force was only able to put up six points, trailing the Bulldogs, 51-42, heading into the fourth.

The Falcons were unable to close the gap in the final 10 minutes, falling to Fresno State, 62-54.

Air Force has a quick turnaround as they fly back to the Academy to host Nevada, Monday at 2 p.m., in Clune Arena.

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