The Air Force women’s basketball team secured a 58-50 win over Utah Valley on Saturday in Orem, Utah, concluding a three-game series between the teams. The victory follows two earlier meetings in the 2024-25 season, where each team won once at Clune Arena. Air Force took the first non-conference matchup, while Utah Valley claimed a six-point win in the opening round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.
Senior Milahnie Perry led all scorers with 24 points and surpassed former Falcon Raimee Beck for seventh place on Air Force’s all-time career scoring list, now totaling 1,405 points. This game marked Perry’s sixth consecutive outing as top scorer for her team.
Air Force (5-4) trailed by three at the end of the first quarter. Despite strong defensive play from the Falcons early on, Utah Valley (5-3) held onto its lead through most of the first half. The Falcons tied the score at the start of the second quarter with a three-pointer from junior Marissa Hargrave, but UVU quickly responded with a three from Amanda Barcello. Foul trouble for Air Force allowed Utah Valley to build an eight-point run from free throws before halftime, leaving Air Force behind 29-25 at intermission.
In the third quarter, Air Force opened with a 13-2 run and built up a seven-point lead through contributions from Perry and two three-pointers by Clay. However, UVU outscored Air Force late in the quarter and tied it at 44 after another Barcello three-pointer at the buzzer.
Utah Valley briefly regained control early in the fourth quarter with a layup by Kylee Mabry. But Air Force answered with a decisive stretch—outscoring UVU 13-2 over nine minutes and holding them without a field goal for the final seven minutes—to secure their win.
Statistically, Air Force finished +18 in rebounding and led Utah Valley in field goals made (19), three-pointers made (nine—a season high), assists (12—tied season high), field goal percentage (.390), three-point percentage (.450—season high), second-chance points (eight), bench points (five), and fast break points (seven).
Air Force will next face New Mexico Highlands at Clune Arena on December 13.
