Basketball: Falcons drop 57-47 contest to New Mexico

  • Published
  • By Melissa McKeown
  • U.S. Air Force Academy
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNEWS) --  Unable to pull off the upset, the Air Force women's basketball team fell to New Mexico 57-47 Feb. 17 at Clune Arena.

The Falcons drop to 5-19 overall, 1-12 in the Mountain West Conference, while the Lobos move to 19-7, 9-4 in the MWC.

An early 9-0 run by Air Force gave the Falcons an 11-4 advantage at the 11:34 mark, but New Mexico began to regroup and regained the lead with three and a half minutes to play in the half after a three-point play by junior Dionne Marsh. In a sloppy half that featured 13 turnovers by each team, the Lobos led by as many as three before going into intermission with a 21-20 advantage.

New Mexico was able extend its lead to six in the first four minutes of the second half before Air Force sophomore Chasmine Jones scored six straight points to tie the game at 31-31. However, the Falcons were unable to get back on top, and the Lobos led 50-42 with 3:58 remaining.

Air Force still had a few more opportunities to come back and were within three points as junior Pamela Findlay knocked down a heave from long range with the shot clock expiring. Still, New Mexico was able to get to the free throw line down the stretch and outscored Air Force 7-0 through the last 2:53 of the contest to hold on to the 57-47 victory.

Findlay led the Falcons with 14 points, while senior Letricia Castillo added 10 points and Alecia Steele finished with seven points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Marsh was the lone Lobo to score in double figures, finishing with 24 points, 10 of which came from the foul line.

The Falcons wrap up their home slate Feb. 22 against Utah.

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