Air Force spent another Wednesday night trying to climb over the hump and ultimately lamenting it was in that position in the first place.

Visiting Fresno State shot a scorching 72.7% in the first quarter, leaving the Falcons women staring up at a nine-point deficit. It was an exhaustive climb after that, and though Air Force pulled within three points in the fourth quarter, the result was a 74-68 loss that frames the team’s position over the final five games in a different light.

“It was all us,” coach Chris Gobrecht told 1300 AM when asked if the start was more the product of Fresno State performance or the struggles of her Falcons squad.

It was a similar performance to that of a week earlier, when Nevada came to Clune Arena, built an early lead over an Air Force team that was slow to leave the gates and then fight off a frantic attempt at a Falcons comeback.

Gobrecht traces the issues to the rigors of the academy and the strain for athletes to endure a long day or class in the middle of the week before.

“Our Wednesday games we just aren’t able to come out with the same fire that we come out with on Saturday games,” said Air Force junior Madison Smith, who scored 16 points. “Whether it’s the late start times or whatever, we don’t know, but we’re trying to figure it out. It can’t keep happening because it’s putting us in position where we’re not able to win games.”

This loss was particularly damaging to Air Force’s seeding hopes for the Mountain West Tournament. With the Falcons (12-14, 5-8 MW) among many teams eyeing the No. 5 spot (which comes with a first-round bye) or Nos. 6-7 (which comes with multiple advantages, including avoiding probable No. 1 UNLV in the quarterfinals), this loss allowed Fresno State (12-14, 5-8) to move around them. The teams are now tied for ninth, but the Bulldogs have the tiebreaker from sweeping the season series.

Fresno State certainly did its part to earn this. The shooting cooled off some, but the Bulldogs shot 60% for the game and made 21-of-22 free throws. They were also 5-of-8 (62.5%) from 3-point range.

Air Force made it a game by forcing 21 turnovers and committing just eight. That disparity, along with five more offensive rebounds from freshman Jayda McNabb, the Mountain West leader in that category, resulted in the Falcons attempting 23 more shots.

Sophomore Milahnie Perry led all scorers with 19 points. McNabb added 10 points, six rebounds, six assists, five rebounds and zero turnovers. Freshman Alexis Cortez scored 10 points for her second consecutive game in double figures.

Madison Smith scored 16 points for Air Force in a loss to Fresno State on Wednesday.

COURTESY OF AIR FORCE ATHLETICS