Falcon hoopsters lose to BYU, 75-66

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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) --  Despite keeping it close, the Air Force Academy women’s basketball team could not pull off its first conference win of the year, dropping a game to Brigham Young University, 75-66, here Jan. 22. With the loss, the Falcons fall to 0-3 in the Mountain West Conference (5-11 overall), while the Cougars move to 11-6, 2-2 in league play.

In the first half, BYU took an early 10-4 lead as the Falcons missed seven of their first eight shots. Air Force began to turn up the pressure on both ends of the court, going on a 14-4 run to take an 18-14 lead. The Cougars responded with a 13-3 run of their own to go up 27-21 with 5:15 remaining in the half. Although Air Force came back within 2 points in the last minute of the period, BYU’s Julie Sullivan made a three-pointer to give the Cougars a 33-28 halftime lead.

BYU stretched its advantage to 8 points early in the second half, but hot shooting from beyond the arc helped Air Force cut into the margin. A three-pointer by Letricia Castillo, and two by Jennifer Roesch and a long-range jumper by Lauren Henderson all worked to bring the Falcons within 1 point (41-40) with just under 14:30 left in the game.

Unfortunately, Air Force never got over the hump, with the Cougars beginning to pull away, leading by as many as 10. The Falcons kept on working at the margin, finally coming within 4 points as Pamela Findlay knocked down a three-pointer of her own with 1:30 remaining. However, BYU outscored Air Force 7-2 in the last minute and a half, including 5 points from the free throw line, to win 75-66.

The Falcons, who shot a season-best 78.3 percent from the foul line, were able to pressure the Cougars into 23 turnovers, including 14 in the first half. However, Air Force once again fell short on the boards, as they were outrebounded 42-30.

Henderson led all Air Force scorers with 11 points, while adding five assists. Also scoring in double figures were Dawn Higginbotham and Alecia Steele, who added 10 points each.

The Falcons next play San Diego State University on Jan. 27 and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas on Jan. 29.