Basketball: Women Falcons rally to 74-66 win over Western State

  • Published
  • By Nick Arseniak
  • Athletic Communications
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Shooting a season-best 54.5 percent from the field, Air Force erased a halftime deficit to rally to a 74-66 win over Western State Jan. 2 at Clune Arena.

The win improves the Falcons to 3-10 on the season and drops the Mountaineers to 4-10.

The trio of junior guard Raimee Beck, freshman guard Alicia Leipprandt and freshman forward Dymond James combined to score 47 of the Falcon's season-high 74 points. The trio combined to score 30 of Air Force's 38 second-half points.

Beck scored a team-high 18 points to go with five rebounds and three three-point baskets. James scored a career-high 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field to go with seven rebounds. Leipprandt added 12 points and three rebounds.

Western State had three players reach double-figures in scoring, led by Brooke Pendergraft's 21 points. Amber Murray added 16 and Kristen Forbes 14 points.

Despite shooting 62.3 percent from the field in the first half, the Falcons trailed 39-36 at halftime. Western State led by hitting six three-point baskets, while Air Force hit on just one.

Air Force stepped up its efforts defensively in the second-half, holding Western State to 25.9 percent shooting from the field after shooting 46.9 percent in the first-half.

The Falcons took their first lead, 50-48, with 11 minutes left in the game. Trailing 38-46, the AFA ripped off a 23-6 run over an eight-minute span to lead 61-52 with seven minutes to go.

The Falcons also dominated the boards, out-rebounding Western State 40-30. Freshman forward Kelsey Berger led all rebounders with nine boards.

Sophomore point guard Anna Gault also played well for the Falcons, dishing out a game-high six assists. Freshman guard Desiree Wilson also scored her first career points with a basket in the second half.

Air Force returns to action Jan. 6 hosting TCU in its Mountain West Conference opener. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.