Falcon women drop conference opener to New Mexico

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U.S AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) --  Despite leading 36-33 at the half, the Air Force Academy women’s basketball team was unable to hold on for the upset over the University of New Mexico, falling 72-58, Jan 15. to open the Mountain West Conference slate.

Early on, the Falcons seemed to have no memory of last year’s 79-31 defeat in Albuquerque, getting out to a fast start against the Lobos. Letricia Castillo, who went scoreless in last season’s contest, hit a pair of three-point shots in the first two minutes of the game, to give the Falcons an 8-4 lead. New Mexico rattled off five straight points to take its first, and only, lead of the half at 9-8, before Air Force’s Jennifer Roesch made a long-range shot of her own to put the Falcons back up on top.

Air Force shot 46.7 percent from the field and 60 percent from long range in the opening period, managing to fight off several New Mexico threats and hold on to a 36-33 lead at the half. Meanwhile, the Lobos shot just over 31 percent from the field, but hit 8-of-11 free throws to challenge for the lead.

The tables were turned in the second half. After a long-range shot by New Mexico’s Julie Briody tied the game at 38-38 with 18:40 on the clock, the Lobos resumed the lead with a basket by Dionne Marsh; however, Air Force’s Alecia Steele scored four straight points to go back on top. The Falcons managed to lead 45-42 before New Mexico went on a 10-0 run to take over.

It was all New Mexico from that point on, as the Falcons were able to hit just 3-of-26 (.115) from the field to end the game. Meanwhile, the Lobos shot 45 percent in the second half, as they rolled to the 72-58 win.

Steele led the Falcons with 15 points, nine of which came from the free throw line, while Roesch added 10 points, all in the first half. Castillo finished with 9 points, while Lauren Henderson had 6 points, four rebounds and dished out eight assists without committing a turnover. In fact, the Falcons had just seven turnovers in the game, the lowest in Air Force’s Division I history.

The Falcons return home for a pair of conference matches against the University of Utah and Brigham Young University. The Falcons take on the Utes Jan. 20 and will face the Cougars Jan. 22.