Monday, November 7
Denver, CO
7:30 PM MT
Air Force Academy
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Photo by: Photo by Trevor Cokley
Falcons Come Out on Top in Narrow Contest at Denver
11/8/2022 1:14:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Box Score
DENVER – Heading into Air Force women's basketball's season debut at Denver on Monday, head coach Chris Gobrecht knew that one of the primary objectives for her Falcons involved learning how to play to the final possession – Giving a full 40 minutes on the court and leaving nothing to less-than-maximum effort.
A 67-63 win over the Pioneers – in a wire-to-wire affair that fell to the final few possessions – stands as proof-positive that this young Falcons squad already possesses the means not only to win but finish out tough games.
In a night where game script largely did not play in the favor of Air Force, the Falcons were able to find late success at the free-throw line, going 17-18 (.944) to close the game. All 18 attempts came in the second half, and 14 of them were in the final quarter. The Falcons' first trip to the line did not occur until the six-minute mark in the third.
Kayla Pilson scored the first basket of the game before Denver's rapid offense took off on an 8-0 run that resulted in quick foul trouble for the junior and left the Falcons down a starter early in the contest. The Pioneers built a ten-point lead in the opening quarter, leading Air Force 16-6 before the Falcons could settle into the game.
"(We started) a little tentative offensively…then we kind of just settled down and started being ourselves," Gobrecht said. For a team that hasn't played together before, that was a lot to be tracking. A lot of communication was necessary, and it just took us a while to get our footing.
"There was a lot going against us. They were going to the free throw line (a lot), and how the game was being called was tough for us…but I told them maybe Air Force was going to be okay, because the grit didn't go anywhere."
Three of the Falcons' cast of freshmen newcomers played significant roles in the team's successful resurgence in the first half, as Air Force made a 7-0 run to take the lead in the second:
Perry, Shelton, and Adams ended their intercollegiate debut combined for 16 points and 11 rebounds on 52 total minutes logged.
The Falcons' second-quarter efforts were led by an eight-point performance from junior Dasha Macmillan, leaving the game tied at 31 entering halftime.
Air Force managed to hold onto the lead throughout the third with senior Kamri Heath leading the charge with a six-point quarter, holding Denver at bay until Nikki McDonald opened the Falcons' free throw scoring with 6:32 remaining.
Pilson, with four fouls, returned to the floor to open the final quarter with the Falcons leading 46-44. Pilson put up two field goals and a pair of successful free throws to push the lead to six with 5:44 remaining.
While Air Force had a few opportunities available to put the game away late, Denver continued to press, and was able to reclaim possession at 63-61 with 12 seconds remaining in the game. With less than ten seconds on the clock, Pilson tipped a Denver in-bounds pass right into the hands of McDonald, forcing the Pioneers to foul. Four combined free-throws from McDonald and sophomore Jo Huntimer sealed the Air Force victory.
Macmillan ended the evening as the Falcons' leading scorer, totaling 13 points, five rebounds and two assists on 29 minutes played. Seniors Heath and McDonald scored 12 and 10 points, respectively. McDonald led the Falcons in rebounding, totaling seven.
"(There's) room for improvement in every area- but first game on the road? I'll take it," Gobrecht said.
Coach G on calming the pace of the game:
I think Jo (Huntimer) is one of the best I've ever coached at determining pace. She knows when to push it, when to slow down…For a first game out when a team is throwing presses, and fake zones, and switching up defenses…for us to handle that as well as we did with very few turnovers and some good solid scoring opportunities, definitely, it starts with Jo but I thought all of them kept their cool. Then Jo had to come out for a cramp, and they still did just fine."
The Falcons (1-0) host Navy In their home opener on Friday at Clune Arena.
DENVER – Heading into Air Force women's basketball's season debut at Denver on Monday, head coach Chris Gobrecht knew that one of the primary objectives for her Falcons involved learning how to play to the final possession – Giving a full 40 minutes on the court and leaving nothing to less-than-maximum effort.
A 67-63 win over the Pioneers – in a wire-to-wire affair that fell to the final few possessions – stands as proof-positive that this young Falcons squad already possesses the means not only to win but finish out tough games.
In a night where game script largely did not play in the favor of Air Force, the Falcons were able to find late success at the free-throw line, going 17-18 (.944) to close the game. All 18 attempts came in the second half, and 14 of them were in the final quarter. The Falcons' first trip to the line did not occur until the six-minute mark in the third.
Kayla Pilson scored the first basket of the game before Denver's rapid offense took off on an 8-0 run that resulted in quick foul trouble for the junior and left the Falcons down a starter early in the contest. The Pioneers built a ten-point lead in the opening quarter, leading Air Force 16-6 before the Falcons could settle into the game.
"(We started) a little tentative offensively…then we kind of just settled down and started being ourselves," Gobrecht said. For a team that hasn't played together before, that was a lot to be tracking. A lot of communication was necessary, and it just took us a while to get our footing.
"There was a lot going against us. They were going to the free throw line (a lot), and how the game was being called was tough for us…but I told them maybe Air Force was going to be okay, because the grit didn't go anywhere."
Three of the Falcons' cast of freshmen newcomers played significant roles in the team's successful resurgence in the first half, as Air Force made a 7-0 run to take the lead in the second:
Falcon freshmen (Milahnie Perry, Faith Shelton, Emily Adams) logged 13 combined points in the opening half, along with six rebounds and two steals. Q3 is just around the corner.#FlyFightWin ⚡️
— Air Force Women's Basketball (@AF_WBB) November 8, 2022
Perry, Shelton, and Adams ended their intercollegiate debut combined for 16 points and 11 rebounds on 52 total minutes logged.
The Falcons' second-quarter efforts were led by an eight-point performance from junior Dasha Macmillan, leaving the game tied at 31 entering halftime.
Air Force managed to hold onto the lead throughout the third with senior Kamri Heath leading the charge with a six-point quarter, holding Denver at bay until Nikki McDonald opened the Falcons' free throw scoring with 6:32 remaining.
Pilson, with four fouls, returned to the floor to open the final quarter with the Falcons leading 46-44. Pilson put up two field goals and a pair of successful free throws to push the lead to six with 5:44 remaining.
While Air Force had a few opportunities available to put the game away late, Denver continued to press, and was able to reclaim possession at 63-61 with 12 seconds remaining in the game. With less than ten seconds on the clock, Pilson tipped a Denver in-bounds pass right into the hands of McDonald, forcing the Pioneers to foul. Four combined free-throws from McDonald and sophomore Jo Huntimer sealed the Air Force victory.
Macmillan ended the evening as the Falcons' leading scorer, totaling 13 points, five rebounds and two assists on 29 minutes played. Seniors Heath and McDonald scored 12 and 10 points, respectively. McDonald led the Falcons in rebounding, totaling seven.
"(There's) room for improvement in every area- but first game on the road? I'll take it," Gobrecht said.
Coach G on calming the pace of the game:
I think Jo (Huntimer) is one of the best I've ever coached at determining pace. She knows when to push it, when to slow down…For a first game out when a team is throwing presses, and fake zones, and switching up defenses…for us to handle that as well as we did with very few turnovers and some good solid scoring opportunities, definitely, it starts with Jo but I thought all of them kept their cool. Then Jo had to come out for a cramp, and they still did just fine."
The Falcons (1-0) host Navy In their home opener on Friday at Clune Arena.
Team Stats
USAFA
Denver
FG%
.361
.351
3FG%
.300
.208
FT%
.944
.692
RB
36
42
TO
12
18
STL
11
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
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