Air Force Tournament Run Comes to a Close Against Top-seeded New Mexico

LAS VEGAS - A third quarter surge by Air Force came up just short as the Falcons fell to No. 1-seeded New Mexico in the quarterfinals, 67-51, Monday afternoon at the Thomas and Mack Center. Air Force finalizes the 2020-21 campaign at 8-18 overall with a 4-14 mark in the Mountain West, while UNM carries on at 15-3.

Air Force, who trailed for 37-minutes of the game, battled from 15-point second-quarter deficit to coming within a bucket of the New Mexico lead by the 4:21 mark in the third quarter, 41-39. The Falcons, who played nine games in two weeks leading up to the quarterfinals, appeared to lose their legs as shots began to fall short in the fourth quarter. New Mexico capitalized and pushed the pace to a comfortable lead to close the game.

Junior forward Riley Snyder left it all on the court, scoring a game-high 23 points on 40-percent shooting from the floor. She rounded out her stat line with five rebounds and an assist. Snyder concluded her junior campaign on a tear, averaging 18.6 points per game in last eight games, five of which were 20-point games or more. Her 15.8 points per game this season is the second highest season average in program history.

Air Force seniors Kaelin Immel, Emily Conroe and Kassady Huffman, all of which have impacted the records books this season, combined for 16 points on the game. Immel, who is the program's all-time leading scorer, scored eight points with six defensive rebounds, three steals, two blocks and an assist. Conroe, the Falcons leading rebounder, snagged three boards and dropped six points while Huffman picked up five boards with a block and a steal.

The Air Force bench combined for 10 points, led by Cierra Winters and Kayla Pilson with four apiece. The Falcon bench also combined for 14 rebounds, helping Air Force out-rebound the Lobos, 38-37. Pilson led the bench with five boards.

New Mexico was led by three players in double-figures, highlighted by LaTascya Duff's 14 points on 83-percent shooting from the floor. Antonia Anderson, who scored nine points, led the rebounding effort with 10 boards.

The Lobos advance to the semifinals where they will play the winner of game four's (4) Fresno State and (5) Nevada.

The Falcons will officially conclude their season at the annual awards banquet, this spring.

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