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WBK: Boise State Knocks Off Air Force 83-59

Feb. 11, 2012
Bronco Athletics

BOISE, Idaho - The Boise State women won their second straight, defeating Air Force Academy 83-59 Saturday at Taco Bell Arena. The Falcons led just once on the first points of the game. Boise State took the lead and never looked back.

The victory marks the Broncos highest scoring game in Mountain West Conference contests and the eighth time Boise State has put up 80 or more points on opponents this season. They are 6-2 when scoring 80-plus points this season.

Despite the large margin of victory, the AFA came within four points with 11:15 left in the second half. The Falcons went on a 6-18 run before the Broncos answered with their own 30-9 push to cap the final 10:56 in the second half led by a series of seven 3-point shots to surge Boise State's rally during the final minutes of play.

"They had a great game plan," Boise State head coach Gordy Presnell said. "We thought we could play behind them a little bit in the post and they just went after us. Got all our posts in foul trouble but fortunately we hit big shots and I thought their game plan was great. They worked so hard."

The Falcons did a good job of marginalizing conference scoring leader Lauren Lenhardt, averaging 20.1 points per game entering Saturday's contest, to just five points total. It was the first time she had been held to single digit scoring in conference this season.

"We've been so dependent on Lauren Lenhardt, who was leading the conference in scoring, and Kati Isham," Presnell said. "The room shrunk on them and they tightened up a little bit and so Keiahnna Engel and Julia Marshall just really came through and I was really pleased with them."

Marshall and Engel combined for 19 points. The Broncos bench scored 38 points in the effort.

Boise State had its most balance effort with six players scoring nine or more points against the Falcons.

"It's great that multiple people have stepped up," Bronco forward Kinzi Poteet said. "It proves that we can score in different ways and the weight isn't so heavy on (Kati) Isham and Lauren (Lenhardt)."

Broncos forward Nicole Brady led Boise State in scoring with 16 points and reigned in five boards on the night despite only playing 19 minutes due to early foul trouble.

"[Brady] got two quick fouls so she didn't play in the first half," Presnell said. "She's a good shooter and a rhythm shooter. I felt like she had a great game at New Mexico. She had 17 in the first half. If we can get her rolling a little bit we have a chance to finish this thing pretty strongly."

Brady was perfect from 3-point range with three total in the second half.

Despite Lenhardt's struggle to provide points she was able to lead the game with a season-high 11 rebounds. Boise State won the boards with 41-34 against AFA.

Boise State improved to 13-11 on the year and 4-5 in conference play, while Air Force fell to 5-19 and 0-9. Next up for Boise State are two one game road trips next week beginning with Colorado State on Tuesday night followed by a Saturday morning game at TCU on Saturday, both contests will be televised by the Mountain West Sports Network (The Mtn.).