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Navy, Air Force To Women DI Fall Final

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Navy, Air Force To Women DI Fall Final

Navy and Air Force will meet for an all-Service Academy women's DI fall final after Air Force flew by Minnesota and Navy just held off UConn in hte semis on Sunday.

Navy, which changed plans late to be an at-large competitor, got tries from center Katelyn McKinley and No. 8 Sarah Skinner to negate UConn prop Sarah Smolinski's opening try. Skinner's try right on halftime made it 12-5 and that was a key momentum shift.

Prop Grace Rovira's try 12 minutes into the second half nudged Navy to 17-5, and while UConn tried hard to come back, the Huskies only managed a lone try with two minutes to go. Hooker Jennie Wingard's score put her side within seven, but Connecticut didn't have enough time to get closer.

Air Force, meanwhile, dominated Minnesota. Inside center Adrienne Yoder scored four tries in the first half. Wing Sarah Stinson got two, while scrumhalf Devin Doyle, No. 8 Kaylee Eskeli, and fullback Jaqueline Hamby all touched down once in that torrid first half which saw Air Force lead 59-0.

Center Elizabeth Laboe scored in the second half, as did Doyle, getting her second. Hamby ended up with a try and eight conversions for 21 points on her own. Minnesota battled hard and got tries from Brooke Doerscher and Marianne Heikkien, but were just outmatched.

This was just business as usual for the potent Air Force offense, as the Zoomies have averaged 83 points per game in eight conference and playoff games. Yoder has 2y tries in those eight games; Hamby has 189 points, or just under 24 points per game.

Navy will have to bring that sterling defense, and more, to the final on December 8.