Falcons Claim Final Victory in Three-Game Saga with Utah Valley

OREM, Utah – The Air Force women's basketball team got the final word in a heated, three-game series against Utah Valley, downing the Wolverines, 58-50, on Saturday afternoon in Orem, Utah.

The win comes on the heels of a pair of contests in 2024-25 in which Air Force and UVU split results inside Clune Arena. The Falcons won the inaugural non-conference contest, followed by a six-point Falcon defeat in the opening round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT).

Scoring 24 points on the day and now sporting 1,405 points for her career, senior Milahnie Perry overtook former Falcon alumna Raimee Beck (2007-11) for seventh in all time career scoring. Perry's Saturday performance marks her sixth consecutive game to lead all scorers this season.

Air Force (5-4, 0-0 MW) trailed 15-12 at the end of the first quarter. A frenetic defensive effort from the Falcons had the better of Utah Valley (5-3, 0-0 WAC) early on, but the Wolverines managed to take an early lead that held for the majority of the first half.

The Falcons tied the game on the opening possession of the second quarter off of a catch-and-release three-pointer for junior Marissa Hargrave. UVU's Amanda Barcello bought back a Wolverine lead, answering with a triple of her own on the opposite end. Early foul trouble plagued Air Force in the second quarter, allowing Utah Valley to push an 8-0 run from the free throw line. Air Force and Utah Valley traded scores down the final minutes of the half and headed to the locker room with the Falcons trailing 29-25.

The Falcon offense opened hot in the second half, going on a 13-2 run and allowing Air Force to build a seven-point lead. A cascade of baskets from Perry and a pair of threes for Clay bought Air Force its first lead since the opening minutes of the game. UVU outscored the Falcons 7-2 down the stretch and Barcello landed another triple at the third quarter buzzer, tying the game at 44-all with 10 minutes to go.

Utah Valley retook the lead off a getaway layup for Wolverine Kylee Mabry, but its advantage was short-lived. In a nine-minute stretch, the Falcons outscored UVU 13-2 while holding the opposition without a field goal for the final seven minutes of the contest, ending in the 58-50 result.

Air Force closed Saturday afternoon +18 in rebounding and bested Utah Valley in field goals made (19), three-pointers made (nine, season high), assists (12, tied season high), field goal percentage (.390), three-point field goals made (nine), three-point percentage (.450, season high), second-chance points (eight), bench points (five) and fast break points (seven).

Up Next:
Air Force Women's Basketball returns to Clune Arena for a non-conference finale against New Mexico Highlands on Dec. 13.

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