U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --- The Western Colorado women's basketball team went on the road and defeated NCAA Division-I Air Force 77-70 Wednesday night in an exhibition game for the Mountaineers (not the Falcons) at Clune Arena.
 
Western (3-0 overall) trailed the Falcons (0-3) 20-14 heading into the second quarter before back-to-back 3-pointers from the Mountaineers' Emmery Wagstaff in the opening 1:12 of the period quickly tied the game.
 
The teams would trade the lead back and forth throughout the quarter before Western took a 36-33 lead at the break thanks to a Jadyn Kanzler bucket in the paint with three second remaining in the second.
 
Western scored the first six points of the third quarter and eventually led by double figures after Wagstaff drained a 3-pointer at the 7:18 mark of the period to make it 47-37 Mountaineers. The Falcons didn't go away, however, as they rallied to tie the game at 53 after a driving layup by Briana Autrey with 2:39 left in the third.
 
But Western never let Air Force take the lead as the Mountaineers too ka 60-57 lead into the fourth quarter and pushed the advantage back to nine points again at the 4:31 mark of the final quarter after a Kanzler basket. The Mountaineers kept it a two-possession game the rest of the way.
 
Mikaela Parker and Samantha Coleman led Western with 15 points apiece with Parker going 7-for-9 from the field and adding seven rebounds in 20 minutes of action. Wagstaff had 14 points – including going 4-for-4 from 3-point range and adding four rebounds while Kanzler finished with 13 points and four rebounds. Jessie Erickson filled up the stat sheet with seven points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
 
The Mountaineers shot 54 percent from the field – including going 7-for-17 from 3-point range. Western also outrebounded Air Force, 38-28.
 
Brian Autrey led Air Force – which was limited to seven player – with 26 points.
 
Western returns to RMAC action Friday as it travels to take on Colorado School of Mines 5:30 p.m. Friday in a matchup of the lone two undefeated teams in conference play. Western then takes on Regis 3 p.m. Saturday.