Emily Adams can clearly see the finish line and intends to run through the tape. The Air Force senior shattered her career high with 23 points and added 12 rebounds for her first double-double as the Falcons crushed Utah State 73-50 at Clune Arena. Adams reached double figures in scoring just once through Air Force’s first 17 games. Now she’s hit that mark in five consecutive contests and the Falcons (10-12, 4-8 Mountain West) have their first back-to-back wins this season in conference play. “Oh my gosh, it’s amazing,” Adams said after what was easily the best game of her career that also saw her add a blocked shot, assist, steal and hit 8-of-15 shots, including the fourth 3-pointer in a career that has spanned 93 games. Utah State’s Macie Brown (31) defends the lane against Air Force’s Emily Adams (31) in the first half at Clune Arena in Colorado Springs on Wednesday February 4, 2026. (Photo by Laura Domingue/special to The Gazette) This has been a trend in recent years for the Falcons. Kamri Heath, who averaged seven points in a solid career, averaged 14 points in an eight-game stretch starting in late January of her senior season in 2023. Dasha Macmillan, who averaged 4.8, had outbursts of 20, 19 and 13 points in conference play as a senior in 2024. Madison Smith, always a talented scorer, entered a different dimension in the final five games last year, averaging 23.6. “Anytime you have a senior out there, they know what to do,” coach Stacy McIntyre said. “That’s critical. We’ve talked about building programs at service academies and how important it is to keep your seniors.” Adams might also hold the key to helping another senior find that extra gear. It’s likely no coincidence that in the past two games, with Adams scoring 37 points, that Milahnie Perry has scored 46. Utah State’s Bella Cosme (12) defends against Air Force’s Milahnie Perry (2) in the first half at Clune Arena in Colorado Springs on Wednesday February 4, 2026. (Photo by Laura Domingue/special to The Gazette) Perry had 19 points in Wednesday’s victory, pulling to within 17 points of the program’s all-time scoring record as an NCAA Division I program (dating back to 1996-97). She has always been a scorer, but adding a complementary piece like Adams on the interior helps provide her some room to maneuver on the perimeter. “I hope so. That was my goal,” Adams said. “I think taking that pressure off her was part of my goal in helping the team win more.” The Falcons were lethal from the outside against Utah State (6-16, 2-11), hitting 11-of-22 3-pointers and outscoring the Aggies by 21 points from deep. They also led 16-2 in points off turnovers, 13-2 in second-chance points and outrebounded the visitors 42-33 – with Jayda McNabb grabbing 10 boards, six on the offensive end. Air Force’s Jayda McNabb (10) drives for a layup against Utah State’s Aaliyah Gayles (3) and Jamisyn Heaton (32) in the first half at Clune Arena in Colorado Springs, CO on Wednesday February 4, 2026. (Photo by Laura Domingue/special to The Gazette) This came against a Utah State team that won first meeting by 12 points in Logan, Utah, in December. “I just think we’re a better team than we were then,” McIntyre said. That points to another trend for the Falcons, who have been better in the second half of the conference season in six of the past seven years. So far, so good, as they are 2-0 in the second half this year behind their surging seniors. ...read more read less