Falcons Travel To UNLV
1/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 11, 2008
Complete UNLV-AF Media Notes in PDF Format 
Air Force Falcons (6-7, 0-1) vs. UNLV Rebels (5-9, 1-0)
Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008 • 7 p.m. (PST)
Las Vegas, Nev. • Cox Pavilion (2,500)
Radio/TV:
Live broadcast will be available online at www.unlvrebels.com.
Livestats:
www.goairforcefalcons.com and www.unlvrebels.com
Last Game:
Air Force lost to Utah, 60-50, on Wednesday, Jan. 9.
UNLV defeated Colorado State, 57-55, on Wednesday, Jan. 9.
Up next:
Air Force hosts New Mexico on Wednesday, Jan. 16.
UNLV is at BYU on Wednesday, Jan. 16.
Streaks:
Air Force has a two-game losing streak.
UNLV has a one game winning streak.
- The Falcons are 2-5 on the road. The Rebels are 3-6 at home.
Coaches:
Air Force is coached by Ardie McInelly (Boise State, 1982), who is 46-136 in her seventh season at the Academy and 123-198 in her 12th year overall as a head coach.
UNLV is coached by Regina Miller (Old Dominion, 1984), who is 172-112 in her 10th year with the Rebels and is 232-212 in her 16th year as a head coach.
Last Meeting:
UNLV defeated Air Force, 72-58, on Feb. 25, 2007 in Las Vegas.
Series History vs. UNLV
- Air Force and UNLV have met 22 times with the Rebels owning a 20-2 advantage in the series.
- The two teams first met in 1997 as conference foes in the Western Athletic Conference. The Falcons won the first of two meetings that year on Jan. 25, 67-62, in Clune Arena.
- Air Force's other win over the Rebels came in 2003, a 73-72 nail biter at Clune.
- UNLV has won nine in a row in the series.
(More series info, including box score of last meeting on page six of PDF release)
Last Meeting vs. UNLV
The Air Force women's basketball team dropped a 72-58 contest to UNLV on Feb. 25, 2007 in Cox Pavilion. Air Force led early in the game, going up 11-4 following a three-point basket by sophomore Brooke Cultra. However, UNLV eventually took the lead after putting together a 10-2 run. Although the Falcons were able to get back on top, the Lady Rebels regained the advantage with five minutes remaining and did not trail again. With a pair of three-point shots in the final few minutes, including one at the buzzer, UNLV went into the locker room with a 33-27 lead. The Falcons cut the margin to four points early in the second half, but could get no closer, as the Lady Rebels shot over 50 percent in the final period. UNLV gradually extended its advantage, leading by as many as 15 points before taking the final 72-58 victory. Air Force had a slight advantage on the boards, out rebounding UNLV, 38-37, and recorded a season-high 10 blocks, including four by sophomore Kim Kreke. However, the Falcons committed 21 turnovers in the contest, compared to just 12 for the Lady Rebels. Senior Jacki Novak led the Falcons with 13 points in the game, while Alecia Steele added 12 points and eight rebounds. Also scoring in double figures for Air Force was senior Dawn Higginbotham, finishing with 10 points. Meanwhile, Sequoia Holmes led the Lady Rebels with 21 points in the game.
Scouting UNLV
- UNLV enters the weekend with a 5-9 record after opening MWC play with a 57-55 win over Colorado State at home on Wednesday.
- The Rebels are led by senior guard/forward Sequoia Holmes, who leads the conference averaging 20.1 points per game to go with 7.4 rebounds per game.
- Seven of UNLV's 13 players' last name begins with the letter H.
- UNLV is averaging 61.8 points per game and allowing 64.4.
Scouting Air Force
- Air Force is 6-7 on the season. The Falcons lost their MWC opener Wednesday to Utah, 60-50 at home.
- Senior forward Alecia Steele leads the team with 14.4 points per game and a conference-leading 8.8 rebounds per game. She re-aggravated a right ankle sprain, suffered earlier this year, against Utah and her status for the UNLV game is to be determined.
Senior Pamela Findlay is second on the team averaging 13.8 points per game and leads the MWC with a 48.1 three-point percentage. - Air Force is averaging 64.1 points per game and allowing 65.5.
Air Force-UNLV Connections
- UNLV junior center Shamela Hampton is a Colorado Springs native. She was a four-year starter at Sierra HS and also played three years for the Colorado All-Stars AAU team.
- Air Force senior guard Jamie Davis and UNLV sophomore forward Latoya Hunt are both Fresno, Calif., natives. Davis attended Hoover HS and Hunt attended Edison HS.
Three Overtime Games Already
Air Force has already played in three overtime games this season. That total ties the 2004-05 squad for the most overtime games in a season for Air Force. The Falcons are 1-2 so far in OT games, losing at St. Francis and Navy and defeating Hampton at home.
Recapping the Utah Game
The Air Force women's basketball team lost its Mountain West Conference opener to Utah, 60-50, Wednesday night in Clune Arena. Senior Pamela Findlay and junior Kim Kreke led the Falcons with 11 points apiece. Utah's duo of Leilani Mitchell and Morgan Warburton combined to score 44 points. Mitchell scored a game-high 24 points to go with six assists. Warburton scored 20 and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Air Force hung tough with the Utes trailing by just four at the half, 26-22. The Falcons did suffer a tough loss in the opening stanza however, losing season scoring and rebounding leader Alecia Steele to injury with a minute left to go in the half. Steele, who finished with eight rebounds and six points, re-aggravated an ankle injury suffered earlier in the season and did not return in the second half. Findlay scored 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting. Kreke's 11 points was a career-high. She also had six rebounds and three assists. Freshman Raimee Beck scored seven points and had a team-high four assists. Utah shot 50 percent from the field (22-44) while Air Force shot 40.9 percent (18-44). Both teams recorded 28 rebounds. Air Force had 12 assists to Utah's 10.
Notes From Utah-Air Force Game
- Air Force is now 0-24 all-time against Utah.
- The 10-point loss was the fourth-closest game in the series.
- Chasmine Jones tied a career-high with six points.
- Dana Loveless grabbed five rebounds for the Falcons.
- Air Force has now shot 33.3 percent or better from the three-point line in their last seven games.
Air Force Strong In Three-Point and Free Throw Shooting
Air Force ranks first in the Mountain West Conference in three-point field goal percentage and second in free throw shooting. In addition, the team ranks third in shots blocked. The Falcons are making 39.1 percent of their three-point attempts, sinking 71.2 percent of their free throws and blocking 4.15 shots per game. All three categories, especially the three-point shooting, are significantly improved from a year ago.
Category 2006-07 2007-08 Improvement3PT Pct. 26.1 39.1 +13.0%
Free throw % 68.0 71.2 +3.2%
Shot Blocks 2.62 4.15 +1.53
Three-Point Shooting On Record Pace For Falcons
Air Force enters the Utah game shooting 39.1 percent from three-point range, which ranks first amongst the MWC schools. Air Force has shot above 40 percent from long distance in four of their last five games. Air Force also has the league's top three-point shooter in Pamela Findlay, who has made 48.9 percent of her shots (22-of-45). Air Force is currently on pace to break the school's team three-point percentage record of 37.9 set by the 1990-91 team and shatter the Div. I mark of 32.9 percent set by the 2002-03 team.
Air Force Three-Point Shooting Percentage Last four years
2007-08 /39.1
2006-07 /26.1
2005-06 /30.7
2004-05 /28.7
Findlay Leaving Her Mark In Falcon Shooting Records
Senior Pamela Findlay currently holds three Air Force records in the three-point shooting and free throw departments. Findlay is Air Force's all-time three-point percentage record holder, making 39.2 percent of her trey's. She is also the single-season free throw percentage record holder, sinking 89.7 percent of their free throw's as a junior last year. For the season, Findlay leads the Mountain West Conference by making 48.5 percent of her three-point baskets (22-45), which is currently the second-best mark ever at Air Force. The school record is 48.6 percent by Kristin Hillery in 1990-91.
Steele Becomes Air Force's All-Time Leading Scorer in Div. I Era
With 14 points against Cal State Stanislaus, senior Alecia Steele became Air Force's all-time leading scorer in the Div. I Era, surpassing 2007 grad Letricia Castillo, who finished with 1,073 career points. Steele now has 1,110 career points, ranking eighth all-time at the Academy.
Steele Eclipses 1,000 Point Barrier Against Hampton
With a season-high 21 points against Hampton, senior forward Alecia Steele surpassed the 1,000 career point barrier, becoming the 11th player in Air Force history to reach the 1,000 mark. Steele is just the second player, joining `07 grad Letricia Castillo, to accomplish the feat since the Falcons moved up to Div. I play.
Steele On Pace For Another Air Force First
Alecia Steele is currently leading Air Force in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.4 points and 8.8 boards per game, for the fourth-consecutive season. No player at Air Force has ever led the team in both scoring and rebounding for four seasons. Melissa Standley led Air Force in scoring three years and rebounding four years in the mid-80's.
Falcons Perfect From Line Against Wisconsin
Air Force was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line Sunday at Wisconsin. It was the first time in 50 games that the Falcons had been perfect from the line as a team. Air Force went 4-for-4 from the line on Jan. 18, 2006 against Utah.
Mixed Results With Buzzer Beaters
Twice this year, Air Force has seen opponents tie the game up with buzzer-beating three-point baskets to end regulation. St. Francis was the first to do so against the Falcons and ended up winning 63-62 in overtime. The same thing happened again to the Falcons against Hampton, but that time, Air Force rebounded with an 85-84 overtime win to open the 2007 Air Force Classic.
Findlay and Steele Named Team Captains for 2007-08
The captains for the 2006-07 basketball season are seniors Pamela Findlay and Alecia Steele. Both are first-year captains.
Falcons Picked Ninth
In the preseason conference poll released Oct. 17, Air Force was chosen by the coaches and select media to finish ninth in the Mountain West.
Wyoming was tabbed as the preseason favorite for the first time in MWC history after winning the WNIT Championship and finishing tied for second place in last year's regular-season standings. Wyoming received 24-of-30 first-place votes and 203 total points. TCU had two first-place votes and finished second with 188 points, followed by BYU with one first-place vote and 182 points. New Mexico placed fourth, followed by Utah, UNLV, San Diego State, Colorado State and Air Force.
Last year's MWC Co-Player of the Year, TCU senior guard Adrianne Ross, earned Top Returning Player honors, while Leilani Mitchell of Utah was named Top Newcomer and San Diego State's Paris Johnson was tabbed Top Freshman.
Noting The Starters
Noting Alecia Steele
- Status is questionable for the UNLV game after re-aggravating sprained ankle suffered earlier this year.
- Became the 11th player in Air Force history to score over 1,000 points against Hampton. Is just the second Falcons to do so in the Div.I era.
- Leads the MWC with 8.8 rebounds per game.
- Has four double-doubles on the year.
- Scored a season-high 22 points in career-high 40 minutes against Northern Colorado.
- Named to Air Force Classic All-Tournament Team.
Noting Pamela Findlay
- Leads MWC with 48.5 percent three-point shooting percentage.
- Has led team in scoring a team-best six games.
- Named to Air Force Classic All-Tournament Team.
Noting Kim Kreke
- Has started 12 of 13 games at center.
- Had career-high's of 11 points and three assists against Utah.
- Record three blocked shots for the third time this season against Adams State.
- Ranks third on team and seventh in conference with 1.08 blocks per game.
Noting Brooke Cultra
- Dished out eight assists against Adams State, the most by a Falcon since Andrea Taylor dished out eight against New Mexico on Jan. 21, 2006. - Has started all 13 games at guard.
- Leads team with 43 assists.
- Second on team with 5.9 rebounds per game.
Noting Raimee Beck
- Fifth in the MWC with 2.0 three's per game.
- Has led team in scoring three times.
- Has logged 40-or-more minutes in a game four times and 38-or-more seven times this season.
Up Next
Air Force hosts Wyoming on Wednesday, Jan. 16.
