A promotional graphic from the U.S. Air Force Academy updating the final result of Air Force’s women’s basketball game against Utah State on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, in Logan, Utah. (U.S. Air Force Academy via X)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Tribune News Service) — Utah State produced several impressive runs, but the Aggies couldn’t run away from Air Force.
The Falcons recovered from deficits in each of the first three quarters, received 29 points and 10 rebounds from Madison Smith and snapped a two-game skid with an 82-77 victory in Logan, Utah.
Playing on their home floor with an 11 a.m. tip time Wednesday to accommodate loads of school-aged children, the Aggies opened the game with an 11-2 spurt. They added a 10-0 surge in the second quarter and scored eight straight in the third quarter.
None of this was enough to give Utah State the lead at the end of a quarter, as Air Force responded to each run with one of its own.
It was the Falcons (15-11, 5-9 Mountain West) who then padded their lead with a 10-0 fourth-quarter surge.
Smith scored 12 points in the first quarter, spurring the Falcons’ initial 13-3 response in the first quarter after the Aggies had shot out of the gate. She collected five of her rebounds in the second quarter and scored 11 points in the second half, going 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
Sophomore Keelie O’Hollaren also enjoyed a banner day, scoring 23 points (one shy of the career high set early in her freshman year vs. Army). O’Hollaren knocked down 5-of-10 from 3-point range, adding such a threat that the Falcons didn’t take her out of the game for the final three quarters.
The outside shot proved to be a difference-maker in the game. The Falcons shot 9-of-22 (41 percent) from 3, outscoring Utah State 27-21 from long range in the five-point victory. The Aggies were 7-of-27 (26 percent) from 3.
Point guard Jo Huntimer was scoreless but contributed nine assists and eight rebounds. The Falcons hit 30 shots and collected 22 assists.
The past two games — losses at Wyoming and to Colorado State — saw the Falcons go cold in the second quarter. That looked like it might again be the case as Utah State opened the quarter with the first 10 points, but Air Force answered with nine straight, then added another nine-point run later in the quarter. AFA finished the second 10-of-17 from the field with 24 points. It hadn’t scored more in a quarter since early November.
This was Air Force’s eighth consecutive victory over Utah State (2-24, 1-13). The Falcons are 5-4 in conference games since starting 0-5. With one more victory they would be assured of finishing .500 or better for just the second time since moving to the NCAA Division I level in 1996-97.
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