Women’s Basketball Falls 65-60 to New Mexico

Postgame Interviews | Box Score

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - A comeback effort for the Air Force women's basketball team Thursday morning against New Mexico brought the Falcons back within one possession in the final seconds of regulation, but ultimately proved not enough to overcome a slow second half of offense, falling 65-60 to the Lobos in Clune Arena.

Four Falcons posted double-digit scoring on the day; Kamri Heath, Nikki McDonald and sophomore Madison Smith posted 11 points apiece, while freshman Milahnie Perry followed up with ten points – the eighth double-digit outing of the season.

Air Force scoring opened the game looking to make a statement, as the Falcons (12-16, 7-9 MW) shot 53 percent (8-15) from the field and 57 percent (4-7) from three-point range through the first quarter to lead New Mexico 22-18 heading into the second.

The second quarter was highlighted by runs for both teams, as the Falcons started off on a 9-2 run behind Heath and Smith, pushing Air Force out to a 31-24 lead at the seven-minute mark. New Mexico (18-11, 10-6 MW) responded in kind, outscoring the Falcons 15-5 down the next three-minute stretch to reclaim a brief lead.

The Falcons forced five turnovers down the final four minutes of the half, paving the way for another Air Force run as the Falcons outscored the Lobos 7-1 to reclaim the lead, heading into the locker room with a 43-40 advantage over New Mexico.

Heading into the second half, the Falcons' scoring stalled out as Air Force went 0-10 from three and 28.6 percent from the field, producing only 22 points for the half. The Lobo offense managed to find its footing in the paint, regaining the lead briefly at the six-minute mark behind three-consecutive buckets in the post. Driving attacks for both Smith and sophomore Jo Huntimer (9 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST) bought the Falcons back a 49-46 lead with 5:38 to go, but the Lobos' lone three-pointer of the quarter from Latascya Duff tied the game before the UNM took a lead on the next possession they would not give up for the remainder of the game.

Air Force trailed by as much as 13 in the early minutes of the final quarter, before a Perry and-one opportunity cut the Lobo lead to ten, sparking a 12-4 scoring advantage down the stretch, capped by a Perry layup off a missed three-pointer by Huntimer that had Air Force down just 68-65 with nine seconds remaining. But time was not a favorable factor for the Falcons, as Air Force was forced to foul on the final New Mexico possession, sending Lobo Shaiquel McGruder to the free throw line for a pair of successful attempts to put the game out of reach.

Air Force women's basketball closes its 2022-23 home schedule on Saturday afternoon, as the program honors its 2023 graduating class and hosts Nevada at 1 p.m.

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