Women’s Basketball Earns Commanding 65-36 Win Over Fresno State

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Air Force Women's Basketball, in search of a foothold in the Mountain West and intent on shaking off a five-game skid to open Mountain West play, dominated on both ends of the floor on Saturday afternoon, taking down Fresno State, 65-36, while snapping the Bulldogs' three-game win streak along the way.

Junior Milahnie Perry led all scoring in the game with 17 points (7-12 FG, 2-4 3FG, 2 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL); Senior Madison Smith logged 11 (4-9 FG, 3 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL), and sophomore Jordyn Devaughn added 10 of her own and a career-best seven rebounds; Sophomore Alexis Cortez finished the evening with four points and nine boards, matching her career high;

The Bulldogs spent the entirety of Saturday's contest contending with Air Force's defense, as the Falcons forced Fresno State into a season-high in turnovers (27) and steals (14), while also holding them to their lowest outputs this year in points (36), field goals made (12), and field goal attempts (43). Two of Fresno State's starting five (Maria Konstantinidou, Saga Ukkonen) were held scoreless in the game, while combining for 0-9 shooting from the field. Junior forward Mia Jacobs, who holds the highest scoring average against Mountain West opponents to this point, was held to a season low six points on the day. 36 points for Fresno State is the Bulldogs' lowest single-game scoring output since being held to 36 by Grand Canyon on Nov. 24 of last season and 35 against UNLV in the 2024 Mountain West quarterfinals.

Air Force took an early command over the Bulldogs which held throughout the afternoon. The Falcons got out to a 19-6 lead after a 9-0 run and six first-quarter Bulldog turnovers. Air Force managed Fresno State's field goal opportunities, holding FSU to 1-9 shooting to start the game. The Falcons, now 4-0 in games out-rebounding opponents this year, held a 13-4 advantage over Fresno State on the glass, as Adams and Cortez combined for nine boards in the first quarter. Six Falcons found baskets in the opening frame, with Adams' six leading the pack.

The Falcon offense cooled off in the second quarter, totaling just eight points on three baskets, but Air Force continued to impose its will defensively, forcing nine steals and 11 Fresno State turnovers, stifling the Bulldogs' response to their deficit. Air Force grew its lead to as much as 17 points in the second and led 27-14 at half.

With a sizable lead in hand, the Falcons put up their most efficient shooting performance in the third quarter, as Air Force shot 49 percent from the field and an even 50 percent (3-6) from three-point range to expand their lead. Perry and Smith, both combining for just eight points in the first half, added seven and five apiece on the way to a 21-point advantage entering the final quarter, where Perry, earning eight points in the final quarter, nearly matched the Bulldogs' scoring as a team to close the game (nine), leading to an eventual 65-36 Falcon win.

Up Next:
Air Force Women's Basketball is back in Clune Arena, hosting Wyoming on Wednesday, Jan. 22.

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