Women’s Basketball Gaps Winthrop Late, Earns Best Season Start Since 1987-88

MANATI, P.R. – Despite warm temperatures, a long journey and stubborn opponent, history was made on Saturday evening, as the Air Force women's basketball team downed Winthrop, 62-47, at the Juan Cruz Abreu Coliseum in Manati, Puerto Rico.

A 7-1 start for Air Force marks the best start to a season in the program's Division I history, and best start since 1987-88.

Senior Madison Smith (8-26 FG, 6-6 FT, 4 REB, 1 AST, 3 STL) came just short of her season high, earning a game-best 22 points; Junior Milahnie Perry scored 18 (7-14 FG, 2-3 3FG, 2-2 FT, 3 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL) and sophomore Keelie O'Hollaren added eight with a pair of threes.

Winthrop stood tall defensively through three quarters on Saturday evening, not allowing the Falcons to get beyond a two-possession advantage for the majority of the contest. After four lead changes in the first quarter, the Falcons closed the period on an 8-all tie after the Eagles got out to an early 4-0 lead, followed by a Falcon 6-0 run and Winthrop response to tie.

In the second, Air Force pushed three two-possession leads in the quarter but then had to endure a three-minute cold spell, snapped by a layup along the baseline for Smith. Winthrop refused to allow the Falcons any more than a five-point lead for the quarter. A Devaughn open three from the left corner and Huntimer steal turned-Cortez-jumper allowed the Falcons to gain a 21-17 advantage in the closing minutes of the half, but a score for Marc Ronaltha and and-one for Marissa Gasaway left Air Force heading into the locker room with a razor-thin 21-20 lead.

Starting the half, the Falcons had to endure a 6-0 Winthrop run, but Smith managed to break the Eagles' momentum with a pair of layups. With Air Force down 28-25, a stout defensive effort from freshman Emma Lytle and three-pointers from both O'Hollaren and Perry held Winthrop to a single-score lead. Perry answers a four-point Winthrop push to regain Falcon lead. Six points from the free-throw line for Smith allowed Air Force to stifle a Winthrop scoring run, leaving the game tied at 39-all to end the third quarter.

The Falcons ran away with the contest in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Eagles 23-8 to close the game. Perry's seven-point run to open the quarter sparked the run, with Smith adding six, McNabb dropping in her second basket of the evening and senior Jo Huntimer adding a three from the top of the arc to give the Falcons a 15-point win.

Up Next:
Air Force Women's Basketball returns to Clune Arena for a two-game home stand, hosting Utah Valley and Seattle on Dec. 4 and 7, respectively.

Footer

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the u.s air force of non-u.s. government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. Although the u.s. air force may or may not use these sites as additional distribution channels for department of defense information, it does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.