Women’s basketball closes MW home schedule hosting Utah State on Wednesday morning

Hosting "Field Trip Day" at Clune Arena on Wednesday morning, the Air Force women's basketball team makes its final appearance at the Academy in 2023-24, completing its series with Utah State at 11 a.m.

Quick Hits:

	Air Force:	Utah State:
Record:	13-16 (6-10 MW)	5-22 (2-14 MW)
Last Game:	vs. San Jose State (W, 67-53)	vs. Colorado State (L, 90-68)
Next Game:	at Boise State (March 2)	vs. (24/24) UNLV (March 2)

Coaches' Numbers:

	Air Force:	Utah State:
Head Coach:	Chris Gobrecht	Kayla Ard
Alma Mater/Year:	USC, 1977	Southeastern La., 2010
Record w/ Program:	82-188 (2015-Current)	24-77 (2020-Current)
Career Record:	624-661 (1979-Current)	24-77 (2020-Current)

Falcons at a Glance:
Falcon scoring is led by back court duo Milahnie Perry and Madison Smithh, both averaging 16.5 and 11.4 points per game, respectively.

In Mountain West games, the Falcons lead the league in steals per game at 10.31 and rank 18th nationally in the category. in Mountain West games, Air force falls second in turnover margin (+3.63).

In conference play, Air Force ranks second in the Mountain West in scoring offense (64.25) and three-point percentage (.340).

MW Offensive Boards Leader:
Freshman Jayda McNabb's 3.9 offensive rebounds per game currently leads the Mountain West across all games and ranks 19th in Division I. At 5'10", McNabb is one of three players in the country shorter than 6'0" currently averaging 3.9 offensive boards or greater. Against the Mountain West, McNabb currently averages .94 more offensive boards than second (Desi-Rae Young, UNLV).

At 183 rebounds in 2023-24, McNabb is two away from possessing the most by a freshman in Air Force Division I history.

All-Time/Last Time Against Utah State:
Air Force is 10-14 all-time against Utah State. The Falcons have earned five straight over the Aggies and are in search of their third-consecutive series sweep.

On Feb. 10, the Falcons earned a 78-762 victory over Utah State in Logan. Five Falcons contributed double-digit efforts in the contest, led off by sophomore Milahnie Perry's 24 (9-14 FG, 2-4 3FG). Senior Dasha Macmillan added 12, with junior Madison Smith and freshman pair Keelie O'Hollaren and Alexis Cortez each scoring ten apiece.

An Upward Trajectory for the Falcons
Across the board, Air Force's offensive production has improved since the start of Mountain West play in December. The Falcons, closing non-conference play averaging 61.6 points per game and sitting ninth in the league (61.00), currently ranks fourth in the Mountain West with a 64.25 scoring average in conference games. In field goal percentage, Air Force opened league play shooting .360 from the field (Utah State - last in the category - currently averages .369). The Falcons currently rank seventh in shooting percentage, getting .396 against MW opponents. From three-point range, Air Force - who shot what would currently be a league-low .266 from three at the start of conference play - currently is second at .340 in the last 16 games.

By Land, Sea, or ....
A trio consisting of McNabb, Keelie O'Hollaren and Perry tops Air Force's three-point production, averaging .372 (16-43), .349 (52- 149) and .355 (38-107), respectively.

Steal Brigade:
Air Force sports four players (Smith, Britt, Perry, McNabb) with top-ten league numbers in steals against Mountain West opponents. No other MW program has more than two.

Combining for 124 steals this season and holding the top-two spots in takeaways among Mountain West players, Smith and Britt are one of ten duos in Division I to combine for 120 steals or more (West Virginia, DePaul, UConn, Old Dominion, Stephen F. Austin, Norfolk State, UC Irvine, Coll. of Charleston, Air Force), and one of five to tandem lead their respective conferences in takeaways (West Virginia, DePaul, Norfolk State, Coll. of Charleston, Air Force).

Air Force is Undefeated Overall When...
-Scoring 70 or more points (7-0);
- Leading with five minutes to go (12-0);
- Shooting better than opponents (8-0).

Air Force is Undefeated in Clune Arena When...
- Leading opponents at halftime (6-0);
- Holding opponents to 60 points or less (4-0);
- Allowing opponents more points off turnovers (4-0);
- Out-rebounding opponents (5-0);
- Shooting 15 or more free throws (5-0).

Air Superiority:
Perry leads the Falcons in total points (479), points per game (16.5), field goal attempts (452), assists (78) and field goals made (177). Perry's 3.56 assist average in Mountain West games is currently the fifth-highest mark in the league.
Falling against Nevada on Feb. 7, Perry reset her career best, scoring 30 points on 10-20 FG and 4-5 from three, marking just the fifth 30-point output by a Falcon in the past decade and the second this season.

Defeating San Jose State on the road, 78-56, on Feb. 3, The Falcons were led by Perry's 24 points (9-14 FG, 4-6 3FG). Perry, opening the game with 14 points on a perfect 4-4 from three and 5-5 from the field gave the Falcons' leading scorer more points than the entire San Jose offense through the majority of the first half.

In Air Force's 75-71 win at Nevada (Jan. 10), Perry earned 26 points and led the floor in scoring, going 2-3 from three-point range and 8-10 from the free throw line, marking her third game since Dec. 16 with 26 points or more. Air Force's .625 mark from three against the Wolfpack is the highest percentage posted in a Mountain West game this season.

In the Falcons' preceding home contest against San Diego State on Dec. 3, Perry once again reset her career best, earning 28 in a 71-63 overtime victory over the Aztecs. Perry scored eight in the extra session against the Aztecs, paving the way for the Falcons' win.

Perry's 27 against Weber State (Dec. 16) 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). Perry then followed up that performance by earning 28 in an overtime win over San Diego State (Jan. 3).

With 672 career points under her belt, Perry is currently on pace to become Air Force's 19th all-time career 1000-point scorer.

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:

O'Hollaren, at San Diego State on Feb. 21, went 4-6 from three, finishing the night with 14 points, marking the tenth game of O'Hollaren's freshman season to shoot .500 or better from distance.

Alexis Cortez, at UNLV (Feb. 17), reset her career high, scoring 19 points on 8-11 from the field. McNabb added nine points, but also pulled down 15 rebounds career high), four assists and three steals.

McNabb, in a loss to Fresno State (Feb. 14), had an extremely efficient evening, contributing ten points, six rebounds, six assists (career high) and five steals (tied career high). Fellow newcomer Alexis Cortez also earned ten points on 4-7 shooting.

O'Hollaren earned Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors after earning 12 points on 4-5 FG and 3-4 from three at San Jose State (Feb. 3), marking her eighth game of the season to shoot .500 or better from three-point range.

At Nevada (Jan. 10), O'Hollaren earned 18 points behind 6-10 from the field and and a 4-6 showing from three., including an eight-point performance in the first quarter of the game, proving critical to the Falcons' 75-71 win over the Wolfpack.
In Air Force's 71-63 overtime win over San Diego State (Jan. 3), freshman Jordyn Devaughn contributed 11 points on 3-4 shooting from three.

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.

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.

All-Time/Division I Single Season Record Tracker:
Milahnie Perry:
472 single season points - Currently third in DI history and sixth all time.
473 ties second in DI history (Kaelin Immel, 2019-20)
473 ties fifth all time (Kaelin Immel, 2019-20)

16.5 season PPG - Currently second in DI history.
17.4 ties first in DI history (LaToya Howell, 2002-03)
16.6 ties tenth all time (Jennifer Patrick, 1993-94, Melissa Standley, 1987-88)

.392 season FG% -
.430 ties tenth in DI history (Dymond James, 2009-10)
.508 ties tenth all-time (Melissa Standley, 1988-89)

Madison Smith:
65 season steals - currently fourth in DI history.
80 ties third in DI history (Courtney Porter, 2017-18)
70 ties tenth all-time (Jo Huntimer, 2022-23).

.822 FT%
.827 ties tenth in DI history (Raimee Beck, 2009-10)
.826 ties tenth all-time (Riley Snyder, 2019-20)

.419 season FG% -
.430 ties tenth in DI history (Dymond James, 2010-11)
.508 ties tenth all-time (Melissa Standley, 1986-87)

Taylor Britt:
59 season steals - currently ranks fifth in DI history.
60 ties fourth in DI history (Shanekia Peebles, 2000-01)
70 ties tenth all-time (Jo Huntimer, 2022-23).

All-Time/Division I Freshman Record Tracker:
Keelie O'Hollaren:
52 season 3PT - Currently ranks third in freshman DI/all-time history, and ties tenth in all-time/DI history.
53 ties second in freshman DI history (Kaelin Immel, 2017- 18)
53 ties second in the all-time freshman rankings (Kaelin Immel, 2017-18)
53 ties sixth in DI history (Jimi Blagowsky, 2014-15)
53 ties sixth all time (Jimi Blagowsky, 2014-15)

149 season 3PTA - tied for third in freshman DI/all-time history and tenth in DI history.
165 ties second in freshman DI history (Mariah Forde, 2016-17)
165 ties second in the all-time freshman rankings (Mariah Forde, 2016-17)
158 ties ninth in DI history (Jimi Blagowsky, 2013-14)
159 ties tenth all time (Jimi Blagowsky, 2014-15)

Jayda McNabb:
183 season rebounds ranks second in freshman DI history and fifth on the all-time freshman rankings.

184 ties first in freshman DI history (Alecia Steele, 2004-05)
184 ties fourth in the all-time freshman rankings (Alecia Steele, 2004-05)
184 ties tenth in DI history (Alecia Steele, 2004-05)
228 ties tenth all time (Alecia Steele, 2006-07).

53 season steals - Currently ties for both third in freshman DI history and fourth on the all-time freshman rankings.
58 ties second in freshman DI history (Cortney Porter, 2014-15)
58 ties third on the all-time freshman rankings (Cortney Porter, 2014-15)
54 ties tenth in Division I history (Dee Bennett, 2017-18)

17 blocks - Currently ties for third in freshman DI history and fourth on the all-time freshman rankings.
26 ties second in DI freshman history (Ellen Jaeschke, 2004-05)
24 ties third in the all-time freshman rankings (Carrie Carrow, 1993-94)

46 FTM -
49 ties tenth in DI history (Riley Snyder, 2018-19)
62 ties tenth all-time (Rozalyn Russ, 1998-99)

Last Time Out:
On an afternoon in which the Air Force women's basketball team was honoring its two 2024 graduates, the Falcons were able to apply their strengths to earn a 67-53 win in Clune Arena over San Jose State on Saturday afternoon, shooting 46 percent from three-point range and forcing a shorthanded San Jose State squad into 29 turnovers.

Eight Falcons contributed to the Air Force scoring effort on Saturday, with junior Madison Smith leading all scoring with 27 points on 11-15 shooting and a 3-4 outing from three, while adding five rebounds, two assists and four steals. Milahnie Perry finished with 12 points, complimented by four rebounds, four assists and three steals of her own. Five Falcons (Smith, Perry, Alexis Cortez, Jayda McNabb, Dasha Macmillan) logged a steal on Saturday, totaling 15 – With Smith, Perry and Cortez accounting for ten.

Air Force (13-16, 6-10 MW) got out to an early lead and battled through the bulk of the first half with the Spartans. Such as the majority of the game went, San Jose State on multiple occasions was able to find the edge necessary to climb out of its deficit, but the Falcons managed to dial up their defensive pressure late in the second quarter and respond at every necessary moment in order to keep San Jose at bay throughout the contest.

After a two-possession affair in the first quarter that left Air Force with just a 16-14 lead entering the second, the Falcons opened the second on a 5-0 run to lead 21-14. San Jose worked its deficit back to as little as a point with less than three minutes remaining in the half, before the Falcons left their opponent scoreless the remainder of the half, forcing eight Spartan turnovers and five-straight steals (four owned by Smith and Perry) on as many possessions to close the half on a 10-0 run, leaving the floor at halftime with a 33-22 lead.

Coming out of halftime, the Falcons immediately picked up exactly where they had left off, as Macmillan earned a takeaway on the Spartans' opening in-bounds pass, then forced SJSU's Semaj Smith into a bad pass on the following possession, converting the Falcons' seemingly impenetrable defense into Smith's second three-pointer of the day. The Falcons' late second-quarter run continued into the third, as Air Force amassed a 17-0 stretch and held San Jose without a basket for nearly six minutes.

Down the closing half of the third quarter, the Falcons loosened their grip on the Spartans, allowing their opponent to get on a 12-3 run, including their only three-pointer of the game, to close their gap by eight heading into the fourth. Despite their opponents' advances in the third, Air Force outscored SJSU 21-15 in the fourth quarter, led by an 11-point showing for Smith to effectively put the Spartans on ice.

Women’s basketball closes MW home schedule hosting Utah State on Wednesday morning

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Players Mentioned

Taylor Britt

Alexis Cortez

Kamri Heath

Jo Huntimer

Dasha Macmillan

Jayda McNabb

Keelie O'Hollaren

Milahnie Perry

Madison Smith

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Women’s basketball closes MW home schedule hosting Utah State on Wednesday morning

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Players Mentioned

Taylor Britt

Alexis Cortez

Kamri Heath

Jo Huntimer

Dasha Macmillan

Jayda McNabb

Keelie O'Hollaren

Milahnie Perry

Madison Smith

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