USAFA, Colo. Despite a career-high 24 points from junior Nnenna Akotaobi (Thornton, Colo.), the University of Denver women’s basketball team dropped its road opener at Air Force Friday night, 65-56. DU fell to 0-2 on the season.

 

The win was Air Force’s first over DU since a 62-59 win at the Academy in 1996 and snapped a seven-game DU win streak in the series.

 

“It was a tough learning experience for us, we were outhustled and outworked tonight,” head coach Pam Tanner said. “It’s a frustrating game all around. We’ve got to get some contributions from some other people and we need to execute better.”

 

Air Force outscored the Pioneers 43-33 in the second half on the strength of five three pointers. Air Force guard Raimee Beck finished 5-of-7 from 3-point land and finished with a game-high 21 points for the Falcons, who won their first game of the season.

 

Akotaobi led all scorers with 24 points and had four rebounds and four assists. Senior Sara Benham (Muleshoe, Texas) was DU’s only other double digit scorer as she chipped in 12.

 

DU had a six point lead with just over 11 minutes left before a 14-6 Air Force run gave the Falcons their second lead of the second half. After the score was tied at 49-all, an 8-0 Air Force run on back-to-back three pointers by Beck put the game away.

 

Denver led 23-22 at the half behind 13 first half points from Akotaobi. The Pioneers shot just 35 percent (7-for-20) from the field in the opening 20 minutes but held the lead thanks to an even worse performance from the Falcons, who were a dismal 16.7 percent from the floor (5-for-30).

 

DU will take the next week off for fall quarter finals and is next in action on Saturday, Nov. 24 when the Pioneers host Montana State in Hamilton Gym at 2 p.m.