Women's Basketball 2007-08 Season Outlook
10/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 26, 2007
Returning its top two scorers from a season ago, Air Force head coach Ardie McInelly is confident her team is prepared for its best year yet in her seventh season at the helm. Despite the departure of three starters to graduation off the 2006-07 team--that went 6-23 overall and earned its first-ever Mountain West Conference Tournament win-- several returners have been waiting in the wings and are ready to step in and make their mark on the program. Complementing the 11 returning letter winners is a talented newcomer crop consisting of five freshmen that will immediately vie for playing time. With the perfect blend of returning experience and incoming talent, the Falcons look to a successful 2007-08 campaign.
Senior team captains Alecia Steele and Pamela Findlay anchor the Falcons this year, providing experience and leadership as three-year starters. Steele has led the team in scoring each of her first three years at the Academy and Findlay has been one of the best long-distance shooters in Academy history. Jamie Davis rounds out Air Force's trio of seniors, and is a seasoned defensive specialist, who has an excellent opportunity to step into a starting role.
"The three seniors will set the standard for our team," McInelly said. "It's their last season and I know they want it to be their best yet. We need consistent play and consistent leadership from that group, and I am confident they will do so. If we can get that, I think we can develop our younger players better and that will help us as this season progresses."
Stepping into a starting role for the Falcons is junior Brooke Cultra, a do-it-all guard/forward, who looks to become even more of a scoring threat with increased minutes. Junior center Kim Kreke and sophomore forward Kathleen Schjodt will be two returners counted upon to defend the paint for the Falcons. Juniors Chasmine Jones and Dana Loveless provide McInelly with some options at forward, as Jones provides instant offense and Loveless another big body to fill the interior.
SENIORS Leading the way for the seniors is Steele, a 6-0 forward from Oklahoma City, Okla. A three-time all-conference selection, Steele enters the season needing 63 points to become just the second Falcon to reach the 1,000-point scoring mark since moving up to Division I. Steele is a scoring and rebounding machine, leading the team in both categories a season ago with 12.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Her eight double-doubles were also tops last year.
"We are looking for Alecia to be consistent every game for us. If she can stay out of foul trouble, her numbers should be significantly better," McInelly said.
Findlay, a 5-11 guard/forward combo from Glenview, Ill., is another senior that will be counted upon to score points. A 37.2 percent career shooter from behind the arc, Findlay is looking to rebound from an injury-plagued junior season and return to form as a long-range threat.
"A healthy Pam will be significant for us," associate head coach Lisa Robinson said. "She had some nerve problems in her elbow which affected her shooting last year. She's healthy now and we look for her to shoot the ball like she did as a freshman and sophomore. Her ability to shoot from long-range will open up the defenses and allow our interior players more space to make plays inside."
Despite the off-year shooting-wise from the field, the elbow problems did not hinder Findlay at the free throw line, where she sank 52-of-58 attempts, good for a school-record 89.7 percent mark.
Davis, a speedy 5-7 guard from Fresno, Calif., has continued to mature into a floor leader and will be called upon to log quality minutes for the Falcons as a fourth-year player.
"As a senior, Jamie has gotten more aggressive in practice and this should translate into more success in games," Robinson said.
Davis has always been a standout on the defensive end of the Falcons, using her quick hands to force 63 career steals. In addition to her defensive prowess, Davis has shown the ability to break down defenses off the dribble and distribute the ball to open teammates, as evidenced by her 53 career assists, ranking second amongst all returners.
JUNIORS Cultra, a 5-11 guard/forward from Onarga, Ill., is developing into one of the Falcons' top players. The first player off the Falcon bench as a sophomore, Cultra has drive and ability to have a breakout season as a junior.
"Brook has a tremendous work ethic," McInelly said. "She continually out-works everybody on the team. Brooke has some outstanding ability and added with her hard work, should continue to build on her success and become an ever better player for us this year."
Cultra is a well-rounded player who can shoot from the outside or take it to the basket and get to the free throw line. In addition, Cultra is an excellent rebounder, finishing third on the team in rebounds despite being a reserve, averaging 4.1 boards per game.
Kreke, a 6-3 center from Salem, Ill., has big shoes to fill with the departure of center Jacki Novak to graduation. As the tallest player on the team, Kreke will be counted upon to be the defensive enforcer in the paint for Air Force.
"Kim gives us some needed size on the inside," McInelly remarked. "She has improved her game tremendously despite playing only half of last season. She stayed at the Academy this summer and honed her skills and and we feel that will be to her benefit and to our benefit this year."
Kreke is the top returning shot-blocker for the Falcons, swatting 17 shot attempts last season in just 180 minutes of action, which averaged out to 3.78 blocks per 40 minutes.
Jones, a powerful 5-10 forward from West Covina, Calif., is another returner looking to have a breakout season. Despite being undersized at the power forward position, McInelly feels her mobility and court awareness should make Jones an emerging offensive weapon in her junior year.
"Chasmine is one of those players that just finds a way to score," McInelly said. "She's strong, she's physical and crafty. We challenged her this off-season to improve her perimeter shooting and defense. So far she has shown she has done so and we like what she can bring to the table for us. We feel that she will give us some quality minutes this year."
Kory Gladysz, a 5-7 guard from Tigard, Ore., is another junior looking to step into a more integral role for the Falcons this season. Gladysz gives the Falcons a versatile guard that can play both the one and two-guard positions. The junior has shown the ability to run the offense and be a long-distance option when left open.
"Kory is a player that has been waiting in the wings and we know she wants to get out there and prove herself." McInelly said. "We look for her to see time at the two and possibly one-guard positions. The key for Kory is getting her to play even-keeled. If she can do that, we think she'll get her shots to fall and the game will naturally come to her."
Loveless, a 6-0 forward, from St. Louis, Mo., is another big, quick and athletic body the Falcons can utilize in the low-post game. Loveless had been a work in progress her first two years at the Academy, but the coaching staff is encouraged that her developing technique and shooting touch has began to catch up with her natural talent and abilities.
"Dana's time on the court at game time has been limited her first two years, but we feel that her game has come together and that she will have a significant impact for us down low," Robison said. "She's another strong and physical player that can score in the paint and grab rebounds for us. With the departure of Jacki (Novak), Dana will be called upon for more minutes this year and we feel she is ready."
SOPHOMORES Cynthia Lete, a 5-4 guard from Santa Ana, Calif., will be in the mix at point guard for the Falcons. The sophomore saw action in 10 games as a freshman and gives the Falcons an emerging court general. Lete has shown significant improvement in her outside shot and floor-leadership skills and looks to be a significant contributor this season.
"Cynthia is a fast, athletic player that has come into her sophomore season with an improved shot and better understanding of our offense," McInelly said. "We look for her to improve upon her recognition of defenses and get us into the right offensive sets."
Ashley Myers, a 5-10 guard from San Antonio, Texas, gives McInelly another outside shooter that will get more looks with the departure of Letricia Castillo to graduation. Myers appeared in nine games as a freshman and enters her sophomore with an improved shot and quicknees.
"Ashley is a player that can hit the outside shot for us," McInelly said. "She has good court vision and will be an added asset on the perimeter."
The sophomore class is completed by Schjodt, a 6-0 forward from Hot Springs, S.D. Schjodt is another tall and lanky option in the backcourt that has been regarded by the coaching staff as one of the Falcons' most improved players.
"Kathleen has been a pleasant surprise for us," McInelly said. "She has shown significant improment from last year and has become a player that can help us out and provide some quality minutes. Her footwork has improved and she has become better at getting her shot off quicker."
"Our sophomore class has been a steady presence for us," McInelly said. "They do the things we ask of them, whether it be in games or practices and they are progressing in our program. The progress they made this summer should help them become valuable contributors this year."
FRESHMEN This year's freshman class is a deep one, featuring five players that give the Falcons added depth at all positions.
Liz Dunsworth, a 6-2 center from Rock Island, Ill., is another tall post player that will be an immediate defensive presence.
"Liz gives us some size down low," McInelly said. "She has some good athleticism and its just a matter of her learning the system."
Raimee Beck, a 5-8 guard from Blackfoot, Idaho, has shown early on in practice an ability to hit from the outside and has adjusted quickly to the fast paced Div. I basketball.
Colorado product, Candice Chase, a 5-11 forward from Lakewood, will add depth to the wing positions.
Stevie Puentes, a 5-7 guard from Rio Rancho, N.M. and a product of the Prep School gives McInelly another option at both the point and 2-guard positions.
"Stevie gives us some speed and quickness at both guard positions and is another option when we run into quicker lineups," McInelly said.
Jennifer Bandi, a lanky 6-2 forward from Winchester, Mass., is another post player that possesses some athleticism.
"Jenni is another athletic player who will get a chance to prove herself in practice and possibly work her way into the lineup as the season moves along," McInelly said.
With a solid blend of returners and newcomers, McInelly is optimistic about the 2007-08 season.
"We have worked very hard in the offseason, both on the court and in the weight room, and we are looking forward to a very successful season," McInelly said. "Consistency is the key for us. If we can get some everyday consistency, we have the talent to do well. With that said, with the departure of three starters to graduation, we have some positions up for grabs and a lot of players are going to get their shots. It will take some time to find the right combination, but the sooner we can set our lineup, the quicker we can progress."
