Basketball: Air Force women unable to get past UNLV

  • Published
  • By Melissa McKeown
  • U.S. Air Force Academy
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNEWS) --  Despite a career-high 28 points and 15 rebounds from junior Alecia Steele the Air Force women's basketball team was unable to overcome an eight-point halftime deficit, falling 63-55, to the visiting University of Nevada-Las Vegas Rebels Jan. 25 at Clune Arena here.

The Falcons drop to 4-14 overall, 0-7 in the Mountain West, while the Rebels improve to 9-9, 3-3 in the MWC.

The Falcons got out to their biggest lead of the opening half at the 10:29 mark using a basket by Steele, an Oklahoma City native, to grab a 15-10 advantage. However, the Lady Rebels went on a 17-2 run over the next six minutes before staking a 29-21 lead at the half.

UNLV extended its advantage to 15 points after the break, and although Steele scored 21 of the Falcons' 34 second-half points, Air Force could not get any closer than eight points. The Lady Rebels were able to hold off the Falcons at the free throw line, recording 10 of their last 14 points at the charity stripe.

Steele, the only Falcon to score in double-figures, notched her seventh double-double of the year, knocking down 12-of-17 from the field and grabbing 11 offensive rebounds.
Leading UNLV was Shamela Hampton with 16 points, while Faye Muller added 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The Falcons are back in action Jan. 27, when they host Wyoming in a 2 p.m. contest. Prior to the game, a free sports clinic for girls in eighth grade and under will be held in honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Participants in the clinic, slated to begin at 11:30 a.m. in the Cadet Gym, will receive free admission to the Air Force-Wyoming game.

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