Women’s Basketball Rallies to 61-56 Road Win over Fresno State

FRESNO, Calif. – Down by as much as 12 points in the third quarter, the Air Force Women's Basketball team mustered a furious comeback to pick up a 61-56 win over Fresno State in the Bulldogs' Save Mart Center.

On an afternoon when Air Force faced potentially its last ever game in the Bulldogs' building, the Falcons pulled together their second-consecutive road victory over Fresno State, marking the first back-to-back wins at Save Mart Center in Air Force history.

Senior Milahnie Perry finished the afternoon in Fresno scoring a game-high 27 points (11-20 FG, 2-4 3FG, 3-5 FT) Fellow senior Emily Adams reset her career high, finishing scoring14 (6-12 FG, 5 REB) Junior Jayda McNabb added six points and 18 rebounds, marking both a career high in boards and the most earned by a player in the Mountain West this season to date. Keelie O'Hollaren, closing the night with six points, contributed a career-best seven assists.

Air Force capitalized on a chaotic start to the game, as the Falcon seniors and a corner three from Clay got Air Force out to an 8-2 start. Once both teams settled into the first quarter, Fresno State began to chip away at the Falcons' advantage. A 10-0 Fresno State answer to the Falcons' hot start left Air Force down 12-10 after the first quarter.

Fresno State continued to expand its lead, opening the second frame on an 8-0 stretch. The Falcons pulled back within five points, but a pair of Bulldog baskets lifted Fresno State to a 32-24 halftime lead.

The Air Force rally took place in the third quarter, with the Falcons shooting a game high 60 percent (9-15) from the field, outscoring the Bulldogs 22-12 in the frame. Down their largest deficit of the game at 12 points (7:26), Air Force took off on an 11-2 run, completed by a left-corner three from Alexis Cortez to tie the game with 2:37 left in the quarter. Free throws for Adams in the final minute of the third quarter bought Air Force its first lead since the opening stages of the game at 46-44.

Air Force and Fresno State fell into a stalemate early in the fourth quarter, with neither making a field goal over a three-minute stretch of the final period. With the score knotted at 49-49, Perry scored eight of Air Force's final 12 points including a crucial score with 36.2 seconds remaining, extending the Falcons' lead to two possessions and securing an Air Force victory.

The Falcons (9-12, 3-8 MW) led the Fresno State (10-13, 4-8 MW) in field goals made (24), three-pointers made (five), rebounds (39), assists (13), blocked shots (four), field goal percentage (.393) and three-point percentage (.278).

Up Next:
Air Force Women's Basketball makes its return to Clune Arena, hosting Utah State and Grand Canyon on Feb. 4 and 7, respectively.

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