Thursday, December 21
Dallas, Texas
12 PM MT
Air Force Academy
at
SMU
Women’s basketball wraps non-conference at SMU
12/20/2023 7:42:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Air Force at SMU
Dec. 21, 2023 | 12:00 p.m. MT
Moody Coliseum | Dallas, Texas
Watch: ESPN+
Play-by-Play: John Liddle
Color: Jim Haller
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
With its first 12 games in hand and the start of Mountain West play days away, the Air Force women's basketball team gets one final tune-up before league play begins. The Falcons face off against the SMU Mustangs on Thursday, Dec. 21 at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, with tip off set for 12 p.m. MT.
Quick Hits:
Coaches' Numbers:
Falcons at a Glance:
Through non-conference play, Air Force scoring is led by sophomore Milahnie Perry and Madison Smith, both averaging 15.1 and 13.9 points per game, respectively.
The Falcons rank 23rd nationally in steals per game (11.6) behind Madison Smith (2.91) and Taylor Britt (2.73), who rank 23rd and 43rd nationally in the category.
Freshman Jayda McNabb's 4.2 offensive rebounds per game currently leads the Mountain West and places her 15th in the country. At 5'10", McNabb is one of three players in the country shorter than 6'0" currently averaging 4.2 offensive boards or greater.
All-Time/Last Time:
Air Force, making its first visit to the DFW area since 2012, faces the SMU Mustangs for the first and final time in the Mustangs' American Athletic Conference tenure. SMU, in its final year as a member of the American, is set to join the ranks of the Power Five, becoming a full member of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2024-25. Air Force and SMU shared membership in the Western Athletic Conference from 1997-99, in which the Falcons went 0-4 against the Mustangs.
Air Force is Undefeated When...
- Scoring 70 or more points (3-0);
- Leading with five minutes to go (6-0);
- Shooting better than opponents (4-0);
- Out-rebounding opponents (5-0);
- Outscoring opponents in the paint (4-0);
- Leading in second-chance points (7-0).
Air Superiority:
Perry leads the Falcons in total points (173) and points per game (15.7). Sporting a season-high 27 versus Weber State (Dec. 16), Perry has scored in 11 of the Falcons' first 12 games to open 2023-24. Perry's 27 against Weber State was the Falcons' highest scoring individual performance since Kamri Heath earned 27 in Air Force's 2022-23 win over Navy (90-50, Nov. 11, 2022).
Scouting SMU:
SMU enters Thursday's contest seeking its third-straight win after defeating La Tech (69-53, Dec. 14) and Sam Houston (69-64, Dec. 18).
The Mustangs are shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from three which ranks 49th and 22nd in the nation, respectively.
Graduate senior transfer Tiara Young leads the charge for SMU, averaging 19.3 points per game - the highest scoring average faced by the Falcons to this point in the season.
Guard Regan Bradley moved to sixth on SMU's all-time assists list with 329 total after tying her career high of nine against Alabama State.
Next-Gen Fighters:
The 2023-24 Falcons roster seven freshmen, the largest class at Air Force since the 2016-17 season and the largest in the Mountain West this season. The newest cadre of cadets under Chris Gobrecht have had an immediate impact in 2023-24:
Jordyn Devaughn led the way in Air Force (7-5, 0-0 MW) scoring, earning a career-high 16 points at Clemson on Dec. 19. Fellow newcomer Keelie O'Hollaren followed up with 14 on 5-12 shooting and 4-8 from three-point range. Air Force finished the game with its second-best three-point percentage to this point of the season, shooting .387 while making a season-best 12 baskets from distance. An even .500 (28-56) from the field also marks a season-high in field goal percentage.
O'Hollaren's 15 points against Weber State (Dec. 16) were complimented by a 3-6 performance from three-point range, paving the way for the Falcons' 70-58 victory behind a season-best eight made threes.
Jayda McNabb earned the first double-double of her collegiate career, going for 13 points and 12 rebounds (team season high) in the Falcons' 61-56 win over UCCS (Dec. 5). Tuesday evening marked McNabb's second outing to score in double digits and her third with ten or more rebounds.
O'Hollaren leads Air Force in three-point percentage (.328) and successful three-point attempts (20); McNabb tops the Falcons in blocks (12) and rebounds per game (6.4).
In Air Force's 83-61 win over Army (Nov. 17), O'Hollaren broke loose to the tune of 24 points on 9-18 shooting. With the Falcons beginning to gap Army down the final minutes of the third quarter, O'Hollaren ripped off eight points inside of 60 seconds including a pair of three-pointers on consecutive drives, pushing Air Force out to an 18-point advantage that ultimately could not be made up.
At Houston (Nov. 10), McNabb, in her second career start, earned six points, ten rebounds (game-high) and a block in 33 minutes; O'Hollaren logged seven points and four rebounds in 15 minutes.
In the Falcons' home-opening win against Denver on Nov. 6, O'Hollaren logged 16 points on 4-6 from three-point range; McNabb, starting in her intercollegiate debut, totaled nine points on the evening and three blocks – one more than any individual Falcon had in 2022-23; Alexis Cortez, in 19 minutes played, logged five points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Texas Two-Step:
Air Force faces both Houston (Nov. 10) and SMU (Dec. 21) at unique milestones for both opponents; UH opens its inaugural season as a member of the Big 12 hosting the Falcons, and Air Force will be SMU's final regular season non-conference opponent before joining the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2024.
Last Time Out:
Despite a solid start and an early lead in to open its Tuesday game at Clemson, the Air Force women's basketball team was ultimately outpaced by the Tigers, falling 70-54 on Tuesday afternoon at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Freshman Jordyn Devaughn led the way in Air Force (7-5, 0-0 MW) scoring, earning a career-high 16 points. Fellow newcomer Keelie O'Hollaren followed up with 14 on 5-12 shooting and 4-8 from three-point range. Air Force finished the game with its second-best three-point percentage to this point of the season, shooting .387 while making a season-best 12 baskets from distance. An even .500 (28-56) from the field also marks a season-high in field goal percentage. The Falcons earned 16 steals in the contest behind a combined nine for both Taylor Britt and Madison Smith, the most against a Division I opponent this year.
O'Hollaren, stepping into the starting lineup for the first time in her collegiate career, opened scoring on the floor with a spot-and-shoot three kicked out by senior Dasha Macmillan, immediately followed up by an unassisted three for junior Madison Smith at the top of the arc on the following Falcon possession.
The 6-0 run and a pair of Clemson turnovers in the opening minutes of the game forced an early timeout from head coach Amanda Butler, from which the Tigers managed to settle into a rhythm. Clemson quickly responded to get on the board and tie at 6-all near the six-minute mark. From there, both teams fell into a stalemate, as Air Force struggled to score against Clemson's size and both teams fell at odds with one other's defense. The Falcons forced five turnovers and managed to hold Clemson scoreless for over four minutes, but the Air Force offense equally struggled to gain a basket for the remainder of the quarter until O'Hollaren broke the cold snap, landing her second three of the contest from out beyond the right wing with 35 seconds to go. The score brought the Falcons within one possession at 12-9 to finish the quarter.
Opening the second quarter, O'Hollaren banked in a jumper, putting the freshman at 3/5 shooting to open the game, but the Tigers took off on an 11-0 run, which put Air Force behind at 23-11.
Sophomore Emily Adams took the floor for the first time this season at the 6:58 point of the quarter and managed to help Air Force find a way into the Clemson paint, as the six foot forward earned her first basket of the season driving a lane to break the Tigers' run and spark a 6-2 Falcon streak. The run brought Air Force's deficit back into single digits at 27-20, but Clemson ended the half with six points, buying back their previous lead and closing the half shooting 61 percent (14-23) and 50 percent (3-6) from three-point range.
The bulk of Clemson's lead was built in the third quarter, as Air Force was outscored 26-16 to open the second half. The Tigers went on 13-0 streak midway through the period before the start of Devaughn's benchmark run began, with the freshman earning five in the final minute behind a three and Air Force's only two points at the free throw line of the game and leading the Falcons on a 8-0 run of their own to enter the final quarter – which was extended to ten early on in the fourth when Devaughn earned her third basket of the game on the Falcons' first possession of the quarter, bringing her game tally to a team-best nine points.
The Falcons, down by 21 at the end of their run, go 4-7 from three-point range in the final quarter and 3-4 in the final two minutes, but just managed to get their deficit down to 16 as Clemson held Air Force at length through the remainder of the contest.
Dec. 21, 2023 | 12:00 p.m. MT
Moody Coliseum | Dallas, Texas
Watch: ESPN+
Play-by-Play: John Liddle
Color: Jim Haller
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
With its first 12 games in hand and the start of Mountain West play days away, the Air Force women's basketball team gets one final tune-up before league play begins. The Falcons face off against the SMU Mustangs on Thursday, Dec. 21 at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, with tip off set for 12 p.m. MT.
Quick Hits:
| Air Force: | SMU: | |
| Record: | 7-5 (0-0 MW) | 5-5 (0-0 AAC) |
| Last Game: | at Clemson (L, 70-54) | vs. Sam Houston (W, 69-64) |
| Next Game: | at Fresno State (Dec. 30) | at USF (Dec. 30) |
| 2022-23 Record: | 13-18 (8-10 MW) | 17-13 (7-8 AAC) |
Coaches' Numbers:
| Air Force: | SMU: | |
| Head Coach: | Chris Gobrecht | Toyelle Wilson |
| Alma Mater/Year: | USC, 1977 | Manhattan College, 2003 |
| Record w/ Program: | 75-177 (2015-Current) | 36-33 (2021-Current) |
Falcons at a Glance:
Through non-conference play, Air Force scoring is led by sophomore Milahnie Perry and Madison Smith, both averaging 15.1 and 13.9 points per game, respectively.
The Falcons rank 23rd nationally in steals per game (11.6) behind Madison Smith (2.91) and Taylor Britt (2.73), who rank 23rd and 43rd nationally in the category.
Freshman Jayda McNabb's 4.2 offensive rebounds per game currently leads the Mountain West and places her 15th in the country. At 5'10", McNabb is one of three players in the country shorter than 6'0" currently averaging 4.2 offensive boards or greater.
All-Time/Last Time:
Air Force, making its first visit to the DFW area since 2012, faces the SMU Mustangs for the first and final time in the Mustangs' American Athletic Conference tenure. SMU, in its final year as a member of the American, is set to join the ranks of the Power Five, becoming a full member of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2024-25. Air Force and SMU shared membership in the Western Athletic Conference from 1997-99, in which the Falcons went 0-4 against the Mustangs.
Air Force is Undefeated When...
- Scoring 70 or more points (3-0);
- Leading with five minutes to go (6-0);
- Shooting better than opponents (4-0);
- Out-rebounding opponents (5-0);
- Outscoring opponents in the paint (4-0);
- Leading in second-chance points (7-0).
Air Superiority:
Perry leads the Falcons in total points (173) and points per game (15.7). Sporting a season-high 27 versus Weber State (Dec. 16), Perry has scored in 11 of the Falcons' first 12 games to open 2023-24. Perry's 27 against Weber State was the Falcons' highest scoring individual performance since Kamri Heath earned 27 in Air Force's 2022-23 win over Navy (90-50, Nov. 11, 2022).
Scouting SMU:
SMU enters Thursday's contest seeking its third-straight win after defeating La Tech (69-53, Dec. 14) and Sam Houston (69-64, Dec. 18).
The Mustangs are shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from three which ranks 49th and 22nd in the nation, respectively.
Graduate senior transfer Tiara Young leads the charge for SMU, averaging 19.3 points per game - the highest scoring average faced by the Falcons to this point in the season.
Guard Regan Bradley moved to sixth on SMU's all-time assists list with 329 total after tying her career high of nine against Alabama State.
Next-Gen Fighters:
The 2023-24 Falcons roster seven freshmen, the largest class at Air Force since the 2016-17 season and the largest in the Mountain West this season. The newest cadre of cadets under Chris Gobrecht have had an immediate impact in 2023-24:
Jordyn Devaughn led the way in Air Force (7-5, 0-0 MW) scoring, earning a career-high 16 points at Clemson on Dec. 19. Fellow newcomer Keelie O'Hollaren followed up with 14 on 5-12 shooting and 4-8 from three-point range. Air Force finished the game with its second-best three-point percentage to this point of the season, shooting .387 while making a season-best 12 baskets from distance. An even .500 (28-56) from the field also marks a season-high in field goal percentage.
O'Hollaren's 15 points against Weber State (Dec. 16) were complimented by a 3-6 performance from three-point range, paving the way for the Falcons' 70-58 victory behind a season-best eight made threes.
Jayda McNabb earned the first double-double of her collegiate career, going for 13 points and 12 rebounds (team season high) in the Falcons' 61-56 win over UCCS (Dec. 5). Tuesday evening marked McNabb's second outing to score in double digits and her third with ten or more rebounds.
O'Hollaren leads Air Force in three-point percentage (.328) and successful three-point attempts (20); McNabb tops the Falcons in blocks (12) and rebounds per game (6.4).
In Air Force's 83-61 win over Army (Nov. 17), O'Hollaren broke loose to the tune of 24 points on 9-18 shooting. With the Falcons beginning to gap Army down the final minutes of the third quarter, O'Hollaren ripped off eight points inside of 60 seconds including a pair of three-pointers on consecutive drives, pushing Air Force out to an 18-point advantage that ultimately could not be made up.
At Houston (Nov. 10), McNabb, in her second career start, earned six points, ten rebounds (game-high) and a block in 33 minutes; O'Hollaren logged seven points and four rebounds in 15 minutes.
In the Falcons' home-opening win against Denver on Nov. 6, O'Hollaren logged 16 points on 4-6 from three-point range; McNabb, starting in her intercollegiate debut, totaled nine points on the evening and three blocks – one more than any individual Falcon had in 2022-23; Alexis Cortez, in 19 minutes played, logged five points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Texas Two-Step:
Air Force faces both Houston (Nov. 10) and SMU (Dec. 21) at unique milestones for both opponents; UH opens its inaugural season as a member of the Big 12 hosting the Falcons, and Air Force will be SMU's final regular season non-conference opponent before joining the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2024.
Last Time Out:
Despite a solid start and an early lead in to open its Tuesday game at Clemson, the Air Force women's basketball team was ultimately outpaced by the Tigers, falling 70-54 on Tuesday afternoon at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Freshman Jordyn Devaughn led the way in Air Force (7-5, 0-0 MW) scoring, earning a career-high 16 points. Fellow newcomer Keelie O'Hollaren followed up with 14 on 5-12 shooting and 4-8 from three-point range. Air Force finished the game with its second-best three-point percentage to this point of the season, shooting .387 while making a season-best 12 baskets from distance. An even .500 (28-56) from the field also marks a season-high in field goal percentage. The Falcons earned 16 steals in the contest behind a combined nine for both Taylor Britt and Madison Smith, the most against a Division I opponent this year.
O'Hollaren, stepping into the starting lineup for the first time in her collegiate career, opened scoring on the floor with a spot-and-shoot three kicked out by senior Dasha Macmillan, immediately followed up by an unassisted three for junior Madison Smith at the top of the arc on the following Falcon possession.
The 6-0 run and a pair of Clemson turnovers in the opening minutes of the game forced an early timeout from head coach Amanda Butler, from which the Tigers managed to settle into a rhythm. Clemson quickly responded to get on the board and tie at 6-all near the six-minute mark. From there, both teams fell into a stalemate, as Air Force struggled to score against Clemson's size and both teams fell at odds with one other's defense. The Falcons forced five turnovers and managed to hold Clemson scoreless for over four minutes, but the Air Force offense equally struggled to gain a basket for the remainder of the quarter until O'Hollaren broke the cold snap, landing her second three of the contest from out beyond the right wing with 35 seconds to go. The score brought the Falcons within one possession at 12-9 to finish the quarter.
Opening the second quarter, O'Hollaren banked in a jumper, putting the freshman at 3/5 shooting to open the game, but the Tigers took off on an 11-0 run, which put Air Force behind at 23-11.
Sophomore Emily Adams took the floor for the first time this season at the 6:58 point of the quarter and managed to help Air Force find a way into the Clemson paint, as the six foot forward earned her first basket of the season driving a lane to break the Tigers' run and spark a 6-2 Falcon streak. The run brought Air Force's deficit back into single digits at 27-20, but Clemson ended the half with six points, buying back their previous lead and closing the half shooting 61 percent (14-23) and 50 percent (3-6) from three-point range.
The bulk of Clemson's lead was built in the third quarter, as Air Force was outscored 26-16 to open the second half. The Tigers went on 13-0 streak midway through the period before the start of Devaughn's benchmark run began, with the freshman earning five in the final minute behind a three and Air Force's only two points at the free throw line of the game and leading the Falcons on a 8-0 run of their own to enter the final quarter – which was extended to ten early on in the fourth when Devaughn earned her third basket of the game on the Falcons' first possession of the quarter, bringing her game tally to a team-best nine points.
The Falcons, down by 21 at the end of their run, go 4-7 from three-point range in the final quarter and 3-4 in the final two minutes, but just managed to get their deficit down to 16 as Clemson held Air Force at length through the remainder of the contest.
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