MOUNTAIN WEST WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 8, 2026

Stacy McIntyre

Milahnie Perry

Emily Adams

Thomas & Mack Center

Air Force Falcons

Postgame Press Conference

Airforce 83, San Diego 76

THE MODERATOR: We're ready to begin with Air Force. We have student-athletes Milahnie Perry, Emily Adams, Coach Stacy McIntire. Let's start with you and get some thoughts on today's game?

STACY McINTYRE: I'm still lost for words. You know, our game plan was just we know that San Diego State is a great team. We know who their top players are.

The last time we played them they shot 63% from the three-point lane, scored 30-plus from the three-point line. That was our focus today is to keep those kids out of transition getting those tough shots.

Just proud of how we executed a game plan, stayed with it, and another night of some of the best defense I've ever seen.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for the student-athletes.

Q. Milahnie, the Mountain West on their social media called is the Milahnie Perry game. What is this like for you? Obviously this could have been the end. You scored 33 points. Make sure it's not the end. Take me through your day.

MILAHNIE PERRY: All I can say is God is so good. I can't even put into words the feeling that we're all feeling, that I'm feeling. I'm so proud of our team. It's just such a blessing. I knew we could do it. I kept saying we could do it, and we did it.

Q. When they make the 7-0 run right at the end of the half, you guys had stood toe to toe with them, and then they get that little cushion. What did that do to you guys mentally when you went into the break, and kind of what was the discussion?

EMILY ADAMS: Just keep pushing. We got to put that fire under our butts and just keep going. We worked so hard.

Q. Emily, 10 of 11 from the line. Obviously each one of those mattered with the way they were making that charge at the end. Again, how are you able to calm your nerves in that situation, especially late when so much was riding on them?

EMILY ADAMS: Honestly just God at this point. Like, that's him. That's all him. I can thank him for everything.

Q. What are your thoughts on Milahnie and what she did today?

EMILY ADAMS: She's amazing. I turned to her at, like, one of the time-outs I was, like, Lahnie, 33, let's go. Yeah, I'm so proud of her. She's amazing.

Q. Jayden McNabb hit a huge three. It's starting to run together already, but was there a moment in maybe the last minute and a half or so that you realized this was actually going to happen for either of you?

MILAHNIE PERRY: Absolutely. Even when they did go on that run, while it was kind of stressful, I still knew it was important that we had to all stay calm, but in my heart I knew that we could pull this one out, and we did.

Q. Milahnie, did you sense any adjustments they made to you during the game? Because it just seemed like some of the same plays kept working. Was that just what we were seeing? Were you making that happen? What did you see in terms of what they were doing?

EMILY ADAMS: She was making that happen (laughing).

MILAHNIE PERRY: I definitely saw that they were trying to face guard me and be a little bit more intense on defense, but it just didn't work.

It wasn't just me. It was everyone being in the right place and doing their role and playing together as a team.

Q. No Air Force team, men or women's, has won two games here. What does it mean to you to leave that legacy as seniors?

EMILY ADAMS: A lot. It's amazing.

MILAHNIE PERRY: We're ecstatic.

EMILY ADAMS: Yeah.

MILAHNIE PERRY: It's crazy.

Q. Looking ahead, you just beat the top seed, so obviously anything probably seems possible to you guys now. What's your mentality going into this evening and tomorrow?

MILAHNIE PERRY: I kept saying we can compete and win against any team in this conference. We know that, and we're going to continue to show that.

Q. One last thing for you, Milahnie. Obviously you've accomplished so much. You have so many records. I think you're second all-time in single season scoring behind yourself after you passed yourself. Is a game like this kind of the cherry on top? Did you want that one singular moment to be able to look back on?

MILAHNIE PERRY: Absolutely. This is such a blessing, and I think earlier when we talked, I got asked, what's your top three moments? This is definitely No. 1 now.

THE MODERATOR: We'll dismiss the student-athletes. Thank you, ladies. Questions for Coach.

Q. Starting with Milahnie and what she did, again, we've talked so much about her and the background, everything else, but to see her do this when it mattered the most, what's that mean?

STACY McINTYRE: We've been seeing her do so much all year. We say especially seniors you get in the Mountain West Conference Tournament, and after having had a season like she's had, she wasn't deniable tonight.

Putting down 33 points, I mean, 12 for 20 from the floor, you know, and playing those kind of minutes. I mean, I think we underestimate how difficult it is to put down that many points and then lock down on defense.

We've been talking about that all year. I mean, she just proved that she's worthy of it.

Q. Obviously they showed what run at the end of the first half and then what they did in the last minute to make it interesting when it looked like you were going to run away with it. How were you able to contain that over the course of 40 minutes?

STACY McINTYRE: Well, I think we were having the same conversation a day ago. Just believing down the stretch. I think any time your team stands up, they get to the free-throw line in critical moments. I always say free-throws don't matter until they matter, and they were a huge part of that win.

But just staying poised and listening, locked in, paying attention to a time and score situation again.

Can't say enough about how we performed down the stretch.

Q. Milahnie is the headliner, but for Emily Adams, 20 points, what, 8 boards, 6 assists. Again, 10 of 11 from the line. What has her emergence meant? Do you think that's maybe what has led to this?

STACY McINTYRE: Well, I mean, Emily has had this confidence going down the stretch for multiple weeks. I think that hadn't changed in the tournament. I mean, for her to go out and get 20, knock down free-throws like she did and just stay as determined as she can and staying focused on the job at hand, but I mean, just you count on your seniors when you get to this point.

Emily has proven that she can -- Milahnie is not out there, you know, trying to do it on her own. In addition to Emily's 20, then you get a Keelie O'Hallaren with 12 and Jayda McNabb with 12.

So I think any time too we see Air Force and we're shooting 48% from the floor and 50% from the three, and you have to do that against a team as good as San Diego State.

Q. From a program perspective, is this a turning point? Do you hope? Do you think? Is it reflective of the work that's been put in to get to this point?

STACY McINTYRE: Well, I mean, I've been here a long time. I think only a few people in the room and even in our locker room or in our office has an idea of how long this road has been. You know, you're always optimistic that you can recruit a Milahnie Perry. She's a game changer.

My time you have a young lady like that and you've already put down a strong foundation, because you know, everybody knows what to expect when Air Force steps on the floor. Lots of pressure and just playing hard. We did that again tonight.

Can't say enough about how proud I am of just how we followed that game plan.