Box Score
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.- Senior guard Carrie Moore scored 30 points and was named Tournament MVP, as Western Michigan won the Air Force Classic with a 71-54 win over the host Falcons on Dec. 2. Senior forward Lindsey Brown was also named to the All-Tournament Team.
“It is a great feeling to win a championship,” WMU head coach Ron Stewart said. “We are extremely proud to have Lindsey (Brown) on the All-Tournament Team and for Carrie (Moore) to receive the MVP award she so richly deserved. We are a very tired basketball team and we are looking forward to coming back home for two home games to finish out this week.”
In a game in which the Broncos never trailed, WMU (3-6) took the lead on a three-pointer by Moore off the opening tip. Air Force followed on the other end with its own three-point basket, but the early 3-3 tie would be the closest the Falcons would get for the remainder of the night.
Seventeen of Moore's points came in the first half, off of perfect 4-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc. The Broncos held a 30-25 lead at the half.
WMU extended its lead to double-digits in the second period. Taking the ball hard to the basket, Moore blew the game open converting on back-to-back three-point plays with a little over 10 minutes remaining.
Sophomore forward Sarah Dreher scored a career-high with 11 points, while Brown led the team with nine rebounds, adding six points. Sophomore guard Tiera DeLaHoussaye had 10 points, seven steals and three assists for the Broncos.
“When you are playing at Air Force, with the altitude as a major factor, it is incredibly note-worthy that Tiera was able to lead this team playing 38 minutes a night,” Stewart said. “Her seven steals tonight exemplify the determination of this team.”
For the second-straight game, Western Michigan made more free throws than its opponent attempted. WMU hit 18-of-28 attempts from the free throw line (64.3 percent). Air Force was just 12-for-17 from the stripe.
Western Michigan held Air Force to its lowest shooting percentage of the year, a paltry 29.7 percent (19-for-64) from the field. The Broncos shot 49 percent on the night.
Alecia Steele led Air Force with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
The Broncos beat Texas-Pan American a day earlier, 95-77, to advance to the championship game.
After playing the last six games on the road, Western Michigan returns for a two-game homestand, hosting Cleveland State at University Arena on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. The Broncos welcome IUPUI on Dec. 9 for a 2 p.m. contest.
