Women’s Basketball Falls Late at Boise State

BOISE, Idaho – Air Force Women's Basketball led by as much as 12 points in the third quarter in their Wednesday evening contest at Boise State but saw its advantage fall away and the Broncos pull ahead late, resulting in a 70-62 loss at ExtraMile Arena in Boise, Idaho.

For the game, senior Milahnie Perry finished with 20 points (9-24 FG, 0-2 3FG, 2-3 FT), marking her third consecutive 20-point finish and 10^th this season. Fellow senior Emily Adams closed on 16 points (6-12 FG, 4-6 FT) and a game high nine rebounds. Junior Jayda McNabb contributed 11 points (4-9 FG, 1-2 3FG, 2-2 FT) and seven boards.

Air Force and Boise State were deadlocked in the first quarter which ended at a 17-all tie. Adams dominated the Bronco paint early on, scoring six first quarter points at the Boise State rim. The Falcons attempted to impose their will early on in the game and distance themselves on the scoreboard, but a pair of threes from BSU's Dani Bayes led a 3-5 first-quarter Bronco effort from beyond the arc to keep close. Bayes' second-made triple got the Broncos in front with two minutes left in the quarter. A Perry breakaway layup on her own steal tied the game at 17-17 with 30 seconds left in the opening frame.

The score held close in the second quarter, with Air Force only leading by as much as four points throughout. Boise State's Natalie Pasco led off the quarter with a triple to give the Broncos a 20-17 advantage. Back-to-back jumpers from Perry and a breakaway stepback floater from O'Hollaren got the Falcons back in front, leading to a 30-26 halftime Air Force advantage.

Air Force got the start it wanted to open the second half, getting out to an early 12-point lead behind a 12-2, rounded Falcon effort. Adams and junior Keelie O'Hollaren sparked a 12-2 run started on a five-point combo, as Adams put away a hook shot layup and a McNabb steal-converted O'Hollaren catch-and-release three-pointer got Air Force scoring started. The Falcons built out a 42-30 lead, but Boise State quickly cut the Falcons' advantage to three points on an 11-2 stretch. Starting at 2:01, Perry scored on consecutive possessions, lifting Air Force back to a 48-43 lead, but a Pasco three-pointer got the Broncos back within a basket at the close of the third quarter.

The lead exchanged hands five times to open the fourth quarter, but it was Boise State that emerged on top. The Broncos shot 7-11 at the Air Force basket in the final frame, ballooning their lead by as much as nine points in the final minute of regulation while leading the Falcons into foul territory.

Air Force (12-14, 6-10 MW) led Boise State (21-6, 12-4 MW) rebounds (34), points off of turnovers (16), second chance points (12) and points in the paint (36).

Up Next:
Air Force Women's Basketball remains on the road, taking on New Mexico in Albuquerque on Saturday, Feb. 21. The Falcons are back in Clune Arena on Feb. 25 hosting Wyoming at 11 a.m. MT.

Footer

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the u.s air force of non-u.s. government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. Although the u.s. air force may or may not use these sites as additional distribution channels for department of defense information, it does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.