Women’s Basketball Escapes Fresno with Season Sweep Over Bulldogs

FRESNO, Calif. – Air Force Women's Basketball got out to an early lead and managed to hang on thorough the remainder of the game on Saturday afternoon, claiming a 67-66 road victory on the over Fresno State to claim a season sweep over the Bulldogs at the Save Mart Center.

Senior Madison Smith led all scoring for the game, giving the Falcons 21 points (8-15 FG, 3-6 3FG, 2-3 FT, 3 REB, 5 AST, 4 STL) including a crucial three-pointer late in the game to keep Air Force out in front; Sophomores Jayda McNabb and Keelie O'Hollaren finished with 13 and 10, respectively.

Fresno State got out to a three-point lead in the opening minutes of the game but quickly saw its lead erased, as Air Force took off on a 16-2 first quarter run to take an 18-7 advantage. The Bulldogs responded, earning a 7-2 streak of their own behind five points for Fresno State's leading scorer Mia Jacobs, cutting into the Falcons' lead to trail 20-14 at the first quarter buzzer.

In the second quarter, Air Force got up to as much as a 10-point advantage and held on to lead 32-28 at half. Fresno State managed its deficit back to within four at halftime behind a 5-5 showing at the free throw line and a team-leading five points in the quarter for Bulldog Kylee Fox. After inflating the lead to its largest of the game at 53-41, Fresno State closed the half outscoring the Falcons 8-2, but Air Force kept its grip on a 32-28 halftime lead.

Smith opened the second half for Air Force on an and-one under the Fresno State basket, almost immediately awarding the Falcons with a 35-28 lead. McNabb's six points at the Bulldog rim in the third quarter and a Smith three-pointer from the left wing got Air Force back to a 10-point advantage. The Falcons held Fresno State to just five baskets in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs managed to go 8-12 from the stripe; A combined 17 points for Smith and McNabb kept the Falcons in front to close the third.

Entering the fourth quarter, Air Force's lead was cut to a single point as Jacobs sunk a three and Bulldogs Danae Powell and Saga Ukkonen forced their way into the Falcon paint. From there, the Bulldogs suffered an 0-7 shooting stretch, before back-to-back Ukkonen threes pulled Fresno out of its slump and back within a basket with 1:27 to go in the game.

Inside of a minute remaining, Fresno State point guard Taija Sta. Maria found a lane into the Falcon paint, leaving Air Force up just 67-66 with 39 seconds to go. Fresno State, in control of possession with mere seconds remaining in the game, was unable to make good on a pair of attempts to retake the lead as the Falcons escaped Save Mart Center with a 67-66 lead and the series sweep over Fresno State.

Up Next:
Air Force Women's Basketball returns to the Academy for the final week of regular season basketball in Clune Arena, facing San Diego State on Wednesday at 11 a.m. and Boise State on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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