COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Utah State women's basketball (8-18, 3-13 MW) lost 67-56 to Air Force (15-11, 9-6 MW) inside Clune Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Saturday.
The Falcons led 13-4 midway through the first quarter. Back-to-back jumpers from junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada and senior point guard Manna Mensah cut the Air Force edge to 13-8 with 2:44 to go. AFA extended its lead to 16-10, but a Mensah layup trimmed the advantage to 16-12 at the end of the first.
The Aggies opened the second quarter with a 7-2 run to take a 19-18 lead with 7:48 to go following layups from Quezada and Mensah, as well as free throws from senior guard Kaylin Randhawa. Air Force took back the lead with the 23-19 advantage with 6:30 to go in the period. The teams continued to trade points until a Quezada layup brought the Aggies within two at 32-30 at the half.
Utah State took a 35-34 lead with 6:32 remaining in the third after a 3-pointer from junior guard Shyla Latone and and Randhawa layup. After Air Force took a 39-38 lead, a couple of Quezada buckets put the Aggies back on top at 39-38 with just under five minutes left in the period. The game stayed close until Air Force closed out the quarter with an 8-0 run to lead 50-42 heading into the fourth.
Air Force maintained the momentum in the fourth quarter as the Falcons won 67-56.
Utah State was led by Quezada with 27 points, Randhawa with 11 and Mensah with 10. Quezada posted her eighth double-double of the season with 10 boards.
The Aggies finished the day shooting 42.9 percent (21-of-49) from the field, 22.2 percent (2-of-9) from behind the arc and 85.7 percent (12-of-14) at the free throw line. The Falcons shot 38.2 percent (29-of-76) from the floor, 23.1 percent (3-of-13) from behind the 3-point line and 50.0 percent (6-of-12) at the free throw line.
USU returns to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Saturday, Feb. 26, as the Aggies host Nevada (17-8, 9-4 MW) at 1 p.m.
Fans can follow USU women's basketball on Twitter, @USUWBasketball, on Instagram, @USUWBasketball, as well as on Facebook, at /USUWBB. Aggie fans can also follow Utah State Athletics on Twitter, @USUAthletics, on Instagram, @USUAthletics and on Facebook at /USUAthletics.
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