Friday, November 24
Manoa, HI
5:30 PM MT
Air Force Academy
at
University of Hawaii
Women’s basketball grinds out 54-51 win over Hawaii
11/24/2023 10:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HONOLULU – In a game that never was more than a two-possession affair for more than mere seconds and sporting 13 lead changes, the Falcon's opening contest in the Rainbow Wahine Showdown bore a thrilling 54-51 victory over Hawaii on Friday evening.
In the two programs' first contest against one another since sharing the Western Athletic Conference for a season in 1996-97, Friday's Air Force win marks the Falcons' first-ever program victory over the Rainbow Wahine, and their first 4-1 start since the 2005-06 season.
Junior Madison Smith and sophomore Milahnie Perry led scoring for both teams, posting 16 apiece; Senior Dasha Macmillan added ten points to the contest, including a key two-pointer in the final minute of the contest which forced Hawaii into foul territory with the game very much still in contention.
Defense ultimately won the day for Air Force, as the Falcons forced Hawaii into giving up the ball 22 times, resulting in 20 points off turnovers. Smith senior guard Taylor Britt both combined for ten steals against the Rainbow Wahine, both setting a new career-high in the category (Smith, six; Britt, four).
A slow start marred the Falcons in the opening minutes of the game, as an 0-7 open to the contest allowed Hawaii to get out to a 5-0 lead in the first five minutes which Hawaii held behind 50 percent shooting for the quarter, but a trio of baskets for Smith allowed the Falcons to answer UH at every challenge.
The second quarter was highlighted by eight lead changes, as Air Force and UH traded baskets throughout the contest. Air Force retook the lead at 20-19 near the one-minute mark after Britt found her lane up the right side of the paint to drive the basket. Yet once again the Rainbow Wahine answered, putting up a pair of shots in the final minute to take a 24-20 lead into halftime.
Opening the fourth quarter, freshman Keelie O'Hollaren (8 pts) found her mark, landing a three-pointer which sparked an Air Force 7-0 run, pushing the Falcons out to a 43-39 lead at the 6:28 mark. After Hawaii's Daejah Phillips landed a pair of free throws off a personal foul from Jayda McNabb, Perry landed a three-pointer keeping Air Force at a five-point lead – of which every point was needed to hold off UH down the final minutes of the game. From there, Hawaii would outscore Air Force 6-2 before Macmillan's late basket put the Falcons up three with a minute to go, ultimately allowing Air Force to hold on as the game entered into free throws.
Head Coach Chris Gobrecht's initial thoughts on the Falcons' win:
"I was really pleased with our defense. It was definitely the difference for us, and we needed it because we were having a tough time shooting. Their defense allowed us to hang in there and then we started hitting a few shots.
"Our poise down the stretch – especially by our young kids – was really great tonight."
Coach on the Falcons' foul issues tonight not stalling the Falcons' success:
"It was kind of frustrating from that standpoint. These are all things we have to learn. We have to learn what we can and can't do, it's that simple. We thought it would be a factor in our game, Alexis (Cortez) and Jayda (McNabb) getting into foul trouble. But they played smart."
On Dasha Macmillan's increasing contributions to the box score:
"I think she's beginning to understand that her real strengths within the dynamic of this team is her experience. She knows this system, she knows what needs to be done, and she talks to the younger kids about it."
Up Next:
Game two of the Rainbow Wahine Showdown pits Air Force women's basketball against Washington on Saturday at 3 p.m. MT. in Honolulu.
In the two programs' first contest against one another since sharing the Western Athletic Conference for a season in 1996-97, Friday's Air Force win marks the Falcons' first-ever program victory over the Rainbow Wahine, and their first 4-1 start since the 2005-06 season.
Junior Madison Smith and sophomore Milahnie Perry led scoring for both teams, posting 16 apiece; Senior Dasha Macmillan added ten points to the contest, including a key two-pointer in the final minute of the contest which forced Hawaii into foul territory with the game very much still in contention.
Defense ultimately won the day for Air Force, as the Falcons forced Hawaii into giving up the ball 22 times, resulting in 20 points off turnovers. Smith senior guard Taylor Britt both combined for ten steals against the Rainbow Wahine, both setting a new career-high in the category (Smith, six; Britt, four).
A slow start marred the Falcons in the opening minutes of the game, as an 0-7 open to the contest allowed Hawaii to get out to a 5-0 lead in the first five minutes which Hawaii held behind 50 percent shooting for the quarter, but a trio of baskets for Smith allowed the Falcons to answer UH at every challenge.
The second quarter was highlighted by eight lead changes, as Air Force and UH traded baskets throughout the contest. Air Force retook the lead at 20-19 near the one-minute mark after Britt found her lane up the right side of the paint to drive the basket. Yet once again the Rainbow Wahine answered, putting up a pair of shots in the final minute to take a 24-20 lead into halftime.
Opening the fourth quarter, freshman Keelie O'Hollaren (8 pts) found her mark, landing a three-pointer which sparked an Air Force 7-0 run, pushing the Falcons out to a 43-39 lead at the 6:28 mark. After Hawaii's Daejah Phillips landed a pair of free throws off a personal foul from Jayda McNabb, Perry landed a three-pointer keeping Air Force at a five-point lead – of which every point was needed to hold off UH down the final minutes of the game. From there, Hawaii would outscore Air Force 6-2 before Macmillan's late basket put the Falcons up three with a minute to go, ultimately allowing Air Force to hold on as the game entered into free throws.
Head Coach Chris Gobrecht's initial thoughts on the Falcons' win:
"I was really pleased with our defense. It was definitely the difference for us, and we needed it because we were having a tough time shooting. Their defense allowed us to hang in there and then we started hitting a few shots.
"Our poise down the stretch – especially by our young kids – was really great tonight."
Coach on the Falcons' foul issues tonight not stalling the Falcons' success:
"It was kind of frustrating from that standpoint. These are all things we have to learn. We have to learn what we can and can't do, it's that simple. We thought it would be a factor in our game, Alexis (Cortez) and Jayda (McNabb) getting into foul trouble. But they played smart."
On Dasha Macmillan's increasing contributions to the box score:
"I think she's beginning to understand that her real strengths within the dynamic of this team is her experience. She knows this system, she knows what needs to be done, and she talks to the younger kids about it."
Up Next:
Game two of the Rainbow Wahine Showdown pits Air Force women's basketball against Washington on Saturday at 3 p.m. MT. in Honolulu.
Players Mentioned
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