Women’s Basketball Survives Non-Conference Finale with New Mexico Highlands

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – In the 2,400 total seconds of basketball played on Saturday afternoon at Clune Arena, it took nearly every single one of them for Air Force Women's Basketball to come out on top.

The Falcons, hosting RMAC opponent New Mexico Highlands for the first time in over 22 years, picked up a 65-64 win over the Cowgirls that required heroics on the part of Air Force in order to come out on top. NMHU led by as much as nine points in the fourth quarter, but a late Falcon rally spearheaded by junior Jayda McNabb and New Mexico native Bhrett Clay provided the boost needed to overcome the opposition.

Four Falcons posted double-digit scoring on the day, led by junior Jordyn Devaughn's 16; Senior Milahnie Perry finished with 13 points; Clay closed the game scoring 12, her fourth 10-plus point finish this season; McNabb posted an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double (third this season) which included a career-high seven assists and five steals.

The Falcons and Cowgirls were tied at 17 after the first quarter. Air Force outpaced NMHU 24-14 in first quarter shot attempts but struggled to find points early on, as the Cowgirls jumped out to an early lead. Air Force settled in and worked up a response in the waning minutes of the opening quarter, going on a 7-0 run to build the Falcons' first lead of the game. NMHU's Kapiolani Anitielu drove the Falcon basket at the first quarter buzzer to even the tally.

The Cowgirls fought back to a 31-30 lead to close out the first half. An eight-point showing for Devaughn drove Falcon scoring in the second quarter, leading Air Force along an 8-2 start while building a six-point lead. The Falcons' advantage quickly evaporated back into a single-point advantage; Cowgirl Aniya Johnson found consecutive baskets to buy NMHU a one-point lead at half – a lead which NMHU managed to maintain for the bulk of the third quarter.

Down 55-46 in the opening minutes of the final quarter, Air Force found a rhythm, as the Falcons clawed their way back into the game on a 13-0 run. Clay's third triple of the afternoon and a speedy layup on consecutive possessions brought Air Force back to a tie at 55, and a fast break basket by Perry bought the Falcons a 57-55 lead with 5:42 remaining in the contest.

Down the stretch, NMHU's resolve bent but did not break. Johnson, with two minutes remaining, willed the Cowgirls back to a tie twice, but McNabb answered the call, gaining critical baskets on consecutive possessions, resulting in a 63-61 Air Force advantage with 38 seconds to go.

With the game seemingly in hand for the Falcons after Perry lifted the lead to 65-61 on free throws, NMHU's Melika Samia completed an and-one drive at the Air Force basket on the resulting drive to cut the Falcons' lead back within a single point.

An unfortunate inbounds play by Air Force ceded possession back to the Cowgirls with 12 seconds to go. On the final possession of the game, Aniteilu drove at Perry in search of illegal contact, but was unsuccessful in her bid for a whistle. Aniteilu lost control and Perry claimed the turnover, leaving Air Force on top as time expired.

Air Force (6-4, 0-0 MW) led the game in free throws made (11), rebounds (39), steals (14), points from turnovers (17), second-chance points (11) and fast-break points (17).

Up Next:
Air Force Women's Basketball opens Mountain West competition at Utah State on Wednesday, Dec. 17; the Falcons return to Clune Arena to host Nevada on Dec. 20.

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