Women’s Basketball Falls in Final Seconds to Nevada
1/4/2025 4:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – After trailing for much of Saturday's contest against the Nevada Wolf Pack, Air Force Women's Basketball found baskets in critical moments and earned a late lead, but ultimately fell in the waning seconds, 58-55, in Clune Arena.
Sophomore Jayda McNabb led Air Force scoring, logging a 12-point, 10-rebound triple-double on Saturday. Senior Jo Huntimer added a season-high nine points (4-8 FG, 7 REB, 2 STL); Sophomore Keelie O'Hollaren closed the evening with eight points, all earned in the fourth quarter.
Air Force was able to establish their defensive presence early on, forcing Nevada into six turnovers in the first five minutes of the game. The Falcons worked up a 7-2 run to open the contest and closed the first quarter with a 15-10 lead, behind an early six points for McNabb, and seven points on nine Wolf Pack turnovers.
In the second, Nevada climbed back and took control as the Wolf Pack ripped off a trio of three-pointers in the opening minutes of the quarter. The contest was tied at 19-all after an Emily Adams jumper from the free throw line, but Nevada embarked on an 11-0 run to leave the Falcons down 30-19 with just under 90 seconds to go in the half. Air Force managed their deficit back to a five-point game at halftime, as threes for both Madison Smith and Alexis Cortez fell on back-to-back possessions, leaving Nevada with just a 30-25 lead at half.
In the third, Air Force managed to cut Nevada's advantage down to a single possession twice, but the Wolf Pack led 43-35 to enter the final quarter. Huntimer and O'Hollaren threes to open the fourth lifted Air Force back within a basket at 43-41, forcing a Wolf Pack timeout.
A late Falcon scoring drought allowed Nevada to climb back to a seven-point lead with 3:28 remaining, but O'Hollaren and McNabb combined for an 8-0 Air Force run, tying the game at 53-all on a McNabb back-door layup. A Huntimer jumper along the right baseline with 33 seconds to go bought Air Force its first lead since the early minutes of the second quarter.
On the resulting Nevada possession, Audrey Roden found an open lane through the Air Force defense, getting to the basket and regaining a Nevada lead with 27.8 to go.
On the critical Air Force possession, Huntimer inbounded the ball to Milahnie Perry. Perry, looking for an open lane inside the right corner, was turned over by Nevada's Lexie Givens, who was then fouled and sent to the free throw line, resulting in the 58-55 final.
Air Force, with one final possession and two seconds to go, found Smith along the left wing with a chance at the three on the final buzzer, but came up just short.
Up Next:
Air Force Women's Basketball is at San Jose State, taking on the Spartans on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 1 p.m. in Provident Credit Union Center.
Sophomore Jayda McNabb led Air Force scoring, logging a 12-point, 10-rebound triple-double on Saturday. Senior Jo Huntimer added a season-high nine points (4-8 FG, 7 REB, 2 STL); Sophomore Keelie O'Hollaren closed the evening with eight points, all earned in the fourth quarter.
Air Force was able to establish their defensive presence early on, forcing Nevada into six turnovers in the first five minutes of the game. The Falcons worked up a 7-2 run to open the contest and closed the first quarter with a 15-10 lead, behind an early six points for McNabb, and seven points on nine Wolf Pack turnovers.
In the second, Nevada climbed back and took control as the Wolf Pack ripped off a trio of three-pointers in the opening minutes of the quarter. The contest was tied at 19-all after an Emily Adams jumper from the free throw line, but Nevada embarked on an 11-0 run to leave the Falcons down 30-19 with just under 90 seconds to go in the half. Air Force managed their deficit back to a five-point game at halftime, as threes for both Madison Smith and Alexis Cortez fell on back-to-back possessions, leaving Nevada with just a 30-25 lead at half.
In the third, Air Force managed to cut Nevada's advantage down to a single possession twice, but the Wolf Pack led 43-35 to enter the final quarter. Huntimer and O'Hollaren threes to open the fourth lifted Air Force back within a basket at 43-41, forcing a Wolf Pack timeout.
A late Falcon scoring drought allowed Nevada to climb back to a seven-point lead with 3:28 remaining, but O'Hollaren and McNabb combined for an 8-0 Air Force run, tying the game at 53-all on a McNabb back-door layup. A Huntimer jumper along the right baseline with 33 seconds to go bought Air Force its first lead since the early minutes of the second quarter.
On the resulting Nevada possession, Audrey Roden found an open lane through the Air Force defense, getting to the basket and regaining a Nevada lead with 27.8 to go.
On the critical Air Force possession, Huntimer inbounded the ball to Milahnie Perry. Perry, looking for an open lane inside the right corner, was turned over by Nevada's Lexie Givens, who was then fouled and sent to the free throw line, resulting in the 58-55 final.
Air Force, with one final possession and two seconds to go, found Smith along the left wing with a chance at the three on the final buzzer, but came up just short.
Up Next:
Air Force Women's Basketball is at San Jose State, taking on the Spartans on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 1 p.m. in Provident Credit Union Center.
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