Falcons Fall 61-60 in Final Seconds Against Wyoming

Post-Game Interviews

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.- A career night for freshman Milahnie Perry and an uptick in defensive energy fueled the necessary momentum for the Air Force women's basketball team to close on a late lead over Wyoming on Wednesday evening, but the Falcons were left with a 61-60 loss to end the night at Clune Arena.

Perry totaled 22 points on 6-10 from the field, doubling her previous career high. The freshman shot an unblemished 9-9 from the free-throw line - another career benchmark – while logging one three-pointer and two rebounds along the way.

After falling behind 6-2 early, The Falcons (7-10, 2-3 MW) hauled in a 9-0 run behind a five-point effort from sophomore Jo Huntimer, and a Kayla Pilson three-pointer out on the right wing. The Falcons closed the first quarter holding onto an 11-10 lead after Wyoming (10-5, 3-1 MW) ended with a pair of baskets which ultimately developed into a 10-0 run as the game progressed into the second quarter.

Wyoming led by as much as six in the second quarter before Perry opened her scoring evening with a floating jumper from just outside the low post, and a pair of successful free throws after drawing a shooting foul on the following possession to bring Air Force back within one. The Falcons entered the locker room at half, trailing 29-26.

Wyoming pushed as much as a nine-point lead in the third quarter, after outscoring the Falcons 6-2 in the opening minutes of the half, and trading baskets throughout. It was a critical six points for freshman Faith Shelton transitioning into the final quarter that helped lead the Falcons back into a one-possession game, as Perry followed up with a good jumper and another set of made free-throws to eclipse her previous career high of 11. Perry and Shelton combined for 24 of the Falcons' 34 points in the second half.

With 4:19 remaining and trailing 48-47, the Falcons managed to regain the lead off of Perry's seventh and eighth-successful free-throw attempts to give Air Force its first lead since the beginning of the second quarter- a lead which the Falcons were able to maintain down the stretch behind a six-point burst from Perry, capped by an and-one opportunity in deep traffic to give the Falcons a three-point lead heading into the final minute of regulation.

Up by three with 23 seconds remaining, the Falcons turned over possession, resulting in Wyoming's Quinn Weidemann drawing a foul and making her pair of free throws to bring the game back to 60-59.

Up 60-59 with 11 seconds to go, it was a jump ball called against Air Force which handed Wyoming back possession with enough time for Tommi Olson to drive at the Air Force basket, sinking the game-winner as time expired.

The Falcons held Wyoming to 3-14 from three-point range, holding their opponent to .300 or less from distance for the ninth time this season.

The Falcons return to action on Saturday to face Fresno State at 1 p.m. in Clune Arena.

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