Monday, March 7
Las Vegas, NV
3:30 pm MT
Air Force Academy
vs
University of Nevada
Air Force greets Nevada in MWC Tourney Opener
3/6/2022 9:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Game 30
Air Force Falcons (17-12, 11-7) vs. Nevada Wolfpack (19-10, 11-6)
Monday, March 4, 2022
3:30 pm MT, , Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
How to Follow Along
Live Stream: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: Follow @AF_WBB prior, during, and following the game for updates
Series History vs. Nevada
-Since the series began in 1981, Air Force has managed a 6-19 record against Nevada.
-Air Force was 0-2 against Nevada in the 2021-22 regular season, first losing in Reno 67-52 on December 28.
-Due to health and safety protocols, the Falcons rotated only six players in a 40-39 loss on January 24.
-AIr Force is 0-1 against Nevada in one previous Mountain West Tournament matchup.
-The lone postseason game between the two schools was March 2, 2013, a 80-66 Air Force loss.
December 28, 2021 (Air Force 52, Nevada 67)
-Air Force's MW opener didn't initiate as hoped, as the Falcons couldn't catch up to the Wolfpack in a 67-52 loss.
-Dasha Macmillan shot the basketball with confidence, leading Air Force with 13 points.
-Cierra Winters was the other Falcon to post double-figures, managing 13 points on 71% shooting.
-The Wolfpack ended the night shooting 54%, including 61% in the second half.
January 24, 2022 (Air Force 39, Nevada 40)
-Air Force was dealt a nearly impossible hand, as health and safety protocols left the Falcons with only seven available players against Nevada.
-Key Falcons such as Riley Snyder, Haley Jones, Dasha Macmillan and Lauren McDonald were unavailable, pressing the remainder of the bench into important minutes.
-Even so, Air Force controlled the final possession and look at the rim, as a Cierra Winters layup at the buzzer bounced in and out of the basket, leaving the Falcons on the unfortunate end of a 40-39 score.
-Winters was asked to be the focal point of the offense, and she maintained the role well, scoring a game-high 18 points.
-Coach Gobrecht used only six players throughout the 40 minutes of play, but the Falcons held their own, with Air Force even carrying a 22-19 lead into the halftime break.
-Trailing 36-29 with 9:29 remaining, the Falcons began to chip away. Air Force strung together a 6-0 run over the next four-plus minutes, cutting the deficit to 36-35 with five minutes left on the clock.
-Back-and-forth offense between the two sides saw Air Force facing a 40-39 deficit with under a minute still to go.
-With 57 seconds left, a Winters layup was blocked and rebounded by Nevada, but the Falcons defense created a much-needed stop on the defensive end. Coach Gobrecht called a timeout at the 24-second mark, leaving Air Force with the final possession.
-As the clock dwindled, Winters drove and fought through contact, sending one last shot off the backboard, a layup that rimmed out as time expired.
Mountain West Tournament History
-Air Force is 5-22 all-time in MW Tournament play.
-Air Force is 0-5 in quarterfinal play.
-This season marks the first time Air Force has clinched a bye into the quarterfinal round in program history.
-The Falcons finish Mountain West play 5th among the 11 teams, the Academy's highest in-conference standing since becoming a Mountain West member.
Last Time Out
-A remarkable 2021-22 regular season for Air Force women's basketball came to its conclusion on Wednesday, as the Falcons drubbed the Aztecs 70-46.
-Riley Snyder and Lauren McDonald led the Falcons in scoring, as both managed 16 points to tie the game-high.
-The two seemingly exchanged roles as the halves changed, with McDonald posting 15 points over the first 20 minutes of play, while 11 of Snyder's 16 points were scored in the second-half.
-Both women combined to make six of Air Force's seven three-point field goals.
-Haley Jones finished her evening one point shy of a double-double, as the senior snagged 15 rebounds to go with nine points.
-Wednesday's win marks the fourth game this season Jones has collected 15 rebounds.
-Though the Air Force defense didn't create its usual amount of turnovers, the Falcons activity on that end of the floor resulted in San Diego State shooting just 29.1%, the second-lowest field goal percentage by the Aztecs this season.
-Chris Gobrecht's team held San Diego State to 16 made field goals to tie a season-low.
Riley Did It
-Riley Snyder made Air Force history when she surpassed Kaelin Immel as the program's most prolific Division I scorer on February 25.
-Snyder finished the day with 15 points to lead Air Force, as her 1,554 career points is 4th all-time in program history.
-Snyder ends her farewell regular season with a 15.4 points per game average, fifth-highest among Mountain West players.
-She will end her Air Force career owning three of the top five individual season scoring averages among all Falcon players since 1996
A Program Ascending
-With 17 overall wins this season and 11 in the Mountain West, the 2021-22 regular season marks the pinnacle of success for the program.
-Both win totals are program bests since joining the Mountain West in 1999, and also stand as new benchmarks since transitioning to Division I play in 1996.
-Air Force's 17 regular season wins are the most since the 1993-94 season, while the Falcons haven't won 11 conference games since 1990-91.
40 is Key
-The Falcons are 12-2 this season when shooting at least 40%.
All About Defense
-Air Force led the MW in regards to turnover margin (+6.62) and steals (11.3 per game).
-The Falcons rank 9th in DI in turnover margin, and 13th in steals per game.
-The Falcons also led the Mountain West in three-point defense at 28.3%, 66th among all DI teams.
Keeping Possession
-Over Air Force's first 12 games, the Falcons surrendered 17.9 turnovers per game.
-Over Air Force's last 17 games, that number has shrunk to 10.6 turnovers per game.
Swiper is Swiping and Scoring
-Cierra Winters was among the best on-ball defenders in the country, as her 2.7 steals per game led the Mountain West.
-Her steals per game average was 22nd among all DI players
-Her 78 steals is the 6th-most in a season in program history, and the 3rd-most in the DI era.
-Winters' 11.4 PPG average is second among Air Force.
-Winters has scored more points this season (330) than her first three seasons combined (183).
-Winters is the only AF player to start all 29 games in 2021-22.
Who? Haley Jones!
-Jones finishes the regular season as the leading rebounder in the Mountain West, having averaged 9.6 rebounds per game.
-As well, the senior's 4.4 offensive rebounds per game will finish as the eighth-best average among Division I players.
-Jones' 246 rebounds this season is the seventh-most in a single season in program history, while her 584 career rebounds is the sixth-highest total in the Division I era.
Freshman Focus
-Jo Huntimer is one of only two players on Air Force to have played all 29 regular season games,
-Her 107 assists so far this season is the fifth-most ever by an Air Force freshman.
-After limited minutes as a freshman to begin the season, Lauren McDonald is averaging 9.6 PPG over her last 13 games.
-McDonald's 40.8% 3PT FG% leads Air Force.
Air Force Falcons (17-12, 11-7) vs. Nevada Wolfpack (19-10, 11-6)
Monday, March 4, 2022
3:30 pm MT, , Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
How to Follow Along
Live Stream: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: Follow @AF_WBB prior, during, and following the game for updates
Series History vs. Nevada
-Since the series began in 1981, Air Force has managed a 6-19 record against Nevada.
-Air Force was 0-2 against Nevada in the 2021-22 regular season, first losing in Reno 67-52 on December 28.
-Due to health and safety protocols, the Falcons rotated only six players in a 40-39 loss on January 24.
-AIr Force is 0-1 against Nevada in one previous Mountain West Tournament matchup.
-The lone postseason game between the two schools was March 2, 2013, a 80-66 Air Force loss.
December 28, 2021 (Air Force 52, Nevada 67)
-Air Force's MW opener didn't initiate as hoped, as the Falcons couldn't catch up to the Wolfpack in a 67-52 loss.
-Dasha Macmillan shot the basketball with confidence, leading Air Force with 13 points.
-Cierra Winters was the other Falcon to post double-figures, managing 13 points on 71% shooting.
-The Wolfpack ended the night shooting 54%, including 61% in the second half.
January 24, 2022 (Air Force 39, Nevada 40)
-Air Force was dealt a nearly impossible hand, as health and safety protocols left the Falcons with only seven available players against Nevada.
-Key Falcons such as Riley Snyder, Haley Jones, Dasha Macmillan and Lauren McDonald were unavailable, pressing the remainder of the bench into important minutes.
-Even so, Air Force controlled the final possession and look at the rim, as a Cierra Winters layup at the buzzer bounced in and out of the basket, leaving the Falcons on the unfortunate end of a 40-39 score.
-Winters was asked to be the focal point of the offense, and she maintained the role well, scoring a game-high 18 points.
-Coach Gobrecht used only six players throughout the 40 minutes of play, but the Falcons held their own, with Air Force even carrying a 22-19 lead into the halftime break.
-Trailing 36-29 with 9:29 remaining, the Falcons began to chip away. Air Force strung together a 6-0 run over the next four-plus minutes, cutting the deficit to 36-35 with five minutes left on the clock.
-Back-and-forth offense between the two sides saw Air Force facing a 40-39 deficit with under a minute still to go.
-With 57 seconds left, a Winters layup was blocked and rebounded by Nevada, but the Falcons defense created a much-needed stop on the defensive end. Coach Gobrecht called a timeout at the 24-second mark, leaving Air Force with the final possession.
-As the clock dwindled, Winters drove and fought through contact, sending one last shot off the backboard, a layup that rimmed out as time expired.
Mountain West Tournament History
-Air Force is 5-22 all-time in MW Tournament play.
-Air Force is 0-5 in quarterfinal play.
-This season marks the first time Air Force has clinched a bye into the quarterfinal round in program history.
-The Falcons finish Mountain West play 5th among the 11 teams, the Academy's highest in-conference standing since becoming a Mountain West member.
Last Time Out
-A remarkable 2021-22 regular season for Air Force women's basketball came to its conclusion on Wednesday, as the Falcons drubbed the Aztecs 70-46.
-Riley Snyder and Lauren McDonald led the Falcons in scoring, as both managed 16 points to tie the game-high.
-The two seemingly exchanged roles as the halves changed, with McDonald posting 15 points over the first 20 minutes of play, while 11 of Snyder's 16 points were scored in the second-half.
-Both women combined to make six of Air Force's seven three-point field goals.
-Haley Jones finished her evening one point shy of a double-double, as the senior snagged 15 rebounds to go with nine points.
-Wednesday's win marks the fourth game this season Jones has collected 15 rebounds.
-Though the Air Force defense didn't create its usual amount of turnovers, the Falcons activity on that end of the floor resulted in San Diego State shooting just 29.1%, the second-lowest field goal percentage by the Aztecs this season.
-Chris Gobrecht's team held San Diego State to 16 made field goals to tie a season-low.
Riley Did It
-Riley Snyder made Air Force history when she surpassed Kaelin Immel as the program's most prolific Division I scorer on February 25.
-Snyder finished the day with 15 points to lead Air Force, as her 1,554 career points is 4th all-time in program history.
-Snyder ends her farewell regular season with a 15.4 points per game average, fifth-highest among Mountain West players.
-She will end her Air Force career owning three of the top five individual season scoring averages among all Falcon players since 1996
A Program Ascending
-With 17 overall wins this season and 11 in the Mountain West, the 2021-22 regular season marks the pinnacle of success for the program.
-Both win totals are program bests since joining the Mountain West in 1999, and also stand as new benchmarks since transitioning to Division I play in 1996.
-Air Force's 17 regular season wins are the most since the 1993-94 season, while the Falcons haven't won 11 conference games since 1990-91.
40 is Key
-The Falcons are 12-2 this season when shooting at least 40%.
All About Defense
-Air Force led the MW in regards to turnover margin (+6.62) and steals (11.3 per game).
-The Falcons rank 9th in DI in turnover margin, and 13th in steals per game.
-The Falcons also led the Mountain West in three-point defense at 28.3%, 66th among all DI teams.
Keeping Possession
-Over Air Force's first 12 games, the Falcons surrendered 17.9 turnovers per game.
-Over Air Force's last 17 games, that number has shrunk to 10.6 turnovers per game.
Swiper is Swiping and Scoring
-Cierra Winters was among the best on-ball defenders in the country, as her 2.7 steals per game led the Mountain West.
-Her steals per game average was 22nd among all DI players
-Her 78 steals is the 6th-most in a season in program history, and the 3rd-most in the DI era.
-Winters' 11.4 PPG average is second among Air Force.
-Winters has scored more points this season (330) than her first three seasons combined (183).
-Winters is the only AF player to start all 29 games in 2021-22.
Who? Haley Jones!
-Jones finishes the regular season as the leading rebounder in the Mountain West, having averaged 9.6 rebounds per game.
-As well, the senior's 4.4 offensive rebounds per game will finish as the eighth-best average among Division I players.
-Jones' 246 rebounds this season is the seventh-most in a single season in program history, while her 584 career rebounds is the sixth-highest total in the Division I era.
Freshman Focus
-Jo Huntimer is one of only two players on Air Force to have played all 29 regular season games,
-Her 107 assists so far this season is the fifth-most ever by an Air Force freshman.
-After limited minutes as a freshman to begin the season, Lauren McDonald is averaging 9.6 PPG over her last 13 games.
-McDonald's 40.8% 3PT FG% leads Air Force.
Players Mentioned
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