BOISE, Idaho (Interstat) — In a game defined by runs and resilience, the Boise State women’s basketball team overcame a determined Air Force squad with a dominant fourth-quarter performance to secure a 70-62 victory in Mountain West Conference action Wednesday night at Taco Bell Arena.

The Broncos, improving to 21-6 overall, trailed by as many as eight points in the third quarter before unleashing a 24-point final period to outlast the Falcons, who fell to 12-14. The win completed a regular-season sweep for Boise State, which also defeated Air Force 70-59 on Jan. 7.

The contest was a tale of contrasting efficiencies. Boise State shot 50% from the field, connecting on 26 of 52 attempts, while Air Force managed just 39% on 25-of-64 shooting. The Falcons compensated with relentless effort on the offensive glass, securing 10 offensive rebounds to the Broncos’ two, which led to a 36-32 advantage in points in the paint and helped them stay within striking distance.

Air Force guard Milahnie Perry led all Falcons scorers with 20 points, and forward Emily Adams added 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds. The Falcons’ defense was active, generating nine steals and converting Boise State’s 14 turnovers into 16 points.

However, Boise State’s offensive firepower, led by a stellar performance from Natalie Pasco, proved too much down the stretch. Pasco, a 5-foot-10 guard from Danville, California, poured in a game-high 21 points, including three 3-pointers, and grabbed five rebounds in 37 minutes. Her backcourt mate, Tatum Thompson, was equally crucial, scoring 18 points on efficient 8-of-13 shooting and adding a key block in the final seconds.

The Falcons started strong, using an 8-0 run late in the first quarter to take a 17-9 lead. They maintained that edge through a defensive-minded second quarter, heading into halftime with a 30-26 advantage after holding the Broncos to just nine points in the period.

The third quarter saw Air Force extend its lead to 44-36 following a 3-pointer from Alexis Cortez with 6:31 remaining. But the momentum began to shift decisively in the final minutes of the quarter. Boise State closed the third on a 10-2 run, capped by a Natalie Pasco 3-pointer at the buzzer, to tie the game at 46-46 and completely erase the Falcons’ cushion.

The fourth quarter belonged entirely to the Broncos. They opened the final period with a 7-0 spurt to take a 53-46 lead, a margin they would not relinquish. Air Force fought back to within 57-55 on a Jayda McNabb layup with 4:35 left, but Boise State answered with a decisive 7-0 run over the next two minutes. A Libby Hutton jump shot, followed by a free throw after she was fouled, and a Mya Hansen layup pushed the lead to 64-55 with 3:15 remaining, effectively sealing the outcome.

Boise State’s composure at the free-throw line in the final minute, hitting 6 of 8 attempts, closed the door on any last-gasp comeback attempt by the Falcons. Hutton finished with 14 points for the Broncos, while Dani Bayes contributed seven points, six assists and two blocks, orchestrating the offense and providing key defensive stops.

The most critical phase of the game was undoubtedly the closing sequence of the third quarter and the opening minutes of the fourth. By transforming an eight-point deficit into a seven-point lead in a span of just over six minutes of game time, Boise State flipped the script and took control. The Falcons, who had dictated the tempo and led for over 28 minutes of the game, could not recover from that pivotal swing, as the Broncos’ offensive execution and defensive intensity reached another level when it mattered most.

A crowd of 1,835 at Taco Bell Arena watched the Broncos win their third straight game and remain near the top of the Mountain West standings. Air Force, which had won three of its last four coming in, saw its two-game winning streak snapped.

Boise State travels to face San Jose State on Saturday. Air Force heads to Albuquerque for a matchup with New Mexico, also on Saturday.