Falcons Host Army In Nationally Televised Game
11/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 28, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Army vs. Air Force
Saturday, Nov. 29
Tipoff: 2 p.m. (Mountain)
Location: USAF Acadey, Colo.
Arena: Clune Arena
Capacity: 5,939
Series: AF leads, 3-1
Live Stats: www.goairforcefalcons.com
Radio: 1300 AM in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Internet Radio: www.goairforcefalcons.com
Radio Talent: Tony Desiere
TV: The Mountain West Sports Network (Mtn.)
Channel 616 on DirecTV and 167 on Comcast cable. (The Mtn. is not available on DISH)
TV Talent: Mike Evans (play-by-play); Andra Lloyd (color)
Falcons Host Army In Nationally Televised Game
The Air Force women's basketball team plays host to Army Saturday, Nov. 29, at Clune Arena. The game will be televised on the Mountain West Sports Network (Mtn.). In addition, fans can listen to a live radio broadcast of the game locally on 1300AM and worldwide on the internet. Tipoff is at 2 p.m. Mtn.
Scouting Air Force
Air Force is 1-3 on the season after dropping a 53-41 game at Texas-Pan American on Wednesday. Senior guard Brooke Cultra leads the team offensively, scoring 17.3 points per game to go with 7.5 rebounds per game. Senior Kim Kreke is the top rebounder in the conference averaging 14.0 boards per game.
Air Force In 2007-08
Air Force went 10-19 in 2007-09. The Falcons were 4-12 in Mountain West Conference play, finishing in seventh place. The four conference wins and seventh place finish were all-time bests in MWC play for Air Force. Senior forward Alecia Steele led Air Force in scoring and rebounding, averaging 12 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Steele was also named team MVP. Steele and senior guard Pamela Findlay earned all-MWC honors.
Scouting Army
Texas-Pan American is 1-4 on the season after falling at St. John's 61-54 on Tuesday. The Black Knights, members of the Patriot League, are averaging 56.4 points per game and allowing 63.8 ppg. Army is led by senior guard Alex McGuire, who leads the team with 12.0 points per game.
Series History vs. Army
- Air Force and Army have met 12 times, with the Falcons holding a 7-5 advantage.
- The two teams first met on Jan. 2, 1985, a 65-52 win by the Falcons at the Miami Classic in Miami, Fla.
- Air Force is 4-1 in the series at home.
1-2-85 Miami, FL* W 65-521-3-91 Melbourne, FL^ L 58-7612-6-96 USAFA, CO W 66-6011-28-97 West Point, NY W 59-5211-23-99 USAFA, CO W 75-5812-8-00 West Point, NY L 67-821-3-02 USAFA, CO W 77-521-4-03 West Point, NY L 69-721-2-04 USAFA, CO L 62-701-3-05 West Point, NY L 53-6012-29-05 USAFA, CO W 73-6111-23-07 West Point, NY W 68-60*Miami Classic^Florida Tournament
Air Force vs. Patriot League
The Falcons are 12-12 all-time in games against Patriot League schools.
First Last Meeting Meetingvs. Army 7-5 1985 2007 vs. Bucknell 1-1 2003 2006vs. Colgate 1-0 1985vs. Holy Cross 0-1 2000vs. Lafayette 1-1 2000 2001 vs. Navy 2-4 1996 2007
Air Force vs. Service Academies
Air Force is 9-9 all-time against service academy schools, going 7-5 against Army and 2-4 against Navy. Air Force has played both Army and Navy in the same season six times.
AFA vs. Army and Navy in same season Year W-L 1996-97 0-2 2000-01 0-2 2001-02 2-0 2003-04 0-2 2004-05 1-1 2007-08 1-1
Last Meeting vs. Army
Air Force outlasted Army for a 68-60 win in women's basketball action Friday afternoon in Christl Arena at Gillis Field House. The Falcons were led by freshman Raimee Beck's 20 points and five three-point baskets.
After Air Force jumped out to a 20-point lead with a 12-0 run to start the second half, Army went with a full-court press the rest of the game. The full-court press worked and the Black Knights clawed their way back into the game, making it as close as a seven point game three different times with under a minute to go. Air Force, which came into the game as the top free throw shooting team in the Mountain West Conference, sank 8-of-9 free throws in the last two minutes to seal the win.
Beck led all scorers with the 20 points and was 6-of-12 from the field. The freshman connected on 5-of-8 three pointers and also pulled down six rebounds. Junior Brooke Cultra finished second on the team with 16 points and team-high's of eight rebounds and six assists.
Senior Alecia Steele, who missed the Falcons' last game with an injury, came off the bench to score 13 points and grab eight rebounds in 23 foul-plagued minutes. Junior Dana Loveless made her first-career start in place of Steele, contributing with four points and two rebounds.
Air Force took a 31-23 lead into the halftime break.
The Falcons opened the second half with a 12-0 run to extend their lead to 43-23. Army, which struggled to find its shooting touch the entire game, did not score its first second-half basketball until six minutes in.
After scoring its first basket in the second half, the Black Knights immediately slashed the lead in half with a 13-3 run to make it a 46-36 game with 10 minutes remaining. Army crept back into the game with the relentless full-court press and whittled Air Force's lead down to eight several times after the four minute mark.
Army was led by Nalini Hawkins, who had 17 points on 7-of-17 shooting. Cara Enright added 15 and Alex McGuire had 10 points. Erin Anthony came off the bench to pull down 13 rebounds.
For the game, Air Force was good on 84.2 percent of its free throw tries (16-of-19).
Opponts Connections
- Army freshman Kait Goodall is a native of Lakewood, Colo. and attended Lakewood High School.
- Six players from the state of Illinois combined will be on the Air Force and Army rosters. Air Force has four players and Army two from Illinois.
- Air Force guard Stevie Puentes and Army guard Courtney Wright are both New Mexico natives. Puentes hails from Rio Rancho and Wright is from Santa Fe.
Broadcast Schedule Announced
Fifteen regular-season Air Force women's basketball games will be broadcast for the 2008-09 season. In addition to the regular season broadcast schedule, all Mountain West Conference Tournament games will be broadcast.
The 15 broadcast games will all be available for free at www.GoAirForceFalcons.com. Eleven of those games will be on the air in Colorado Springs on KCS 1300 AM.
Jay Ritchie, in his 22nd season of broadcasting Air Force athletics, will handle the play-by-play duties. In addition, Tony Desiere will handle select broadcasts as well.
2008-09 Radio Schedule
Date Opponent RadioNov. 29 ARMY KCS 1300 AM/InternetDec. 1 BARRY InternetDec. 5 North Carolina Central InternetDec. 6 TBA InternetDec. 10 at Denver KCS 1300 AM/InternetDec. 22 UMKC KCS 1300 AM/InternetJan. 3 NAVY InternetJan. 10 NEW MEXICO* KCS 1300 AM/InternetJan. 20 COLORADO STATE* KCS 1300 AM/InternetJan. 28 WYOMING* KCS 1300 AM/InternetFeb. 7 SAN DIEGO STATE* KCS 1300 AM/InternetFeb. 14 UTAH* InternetFeb. 18 TCU* KCS 1300 AM/InternetMarch 4 UNLV* KCS 1300 AM/InternetMarch 7 BYU* KCS 1300 AM/InternetM 10-14 MWC Championships KCS 1300 AM/Internet
Kreke MWC's Top Rebounder
Kim Kreke leads the Mountain West Conference with 14.0 rebounds per game. The next closest player is UNLV's Shamela Hampton with 9.7 rebounds per game. Kreke averaged 4.6 rebounds per game as a junior. She has at least 11 rebounds in all four games.
Kreke Rebounds By Game vs. Northern Colorado 11 vs. Chadron St. 13 vs. Milwaukee 19 vs. Texas-Pan American 13 Total 56
MWC Individual Rebounding 1. Kim Kreke, Air Force 14.0 2. Shamela Hampton, UNLV 9.7 3.Morgan Warburton, Utah 8.7 4.Katie King, Utah 8.0 5. Megan McGuffey, Wyo. 8.2
Kreke Sets Academy Div. I Rebounding Mark
Kim Kreke recorded 19 rebounds against Milwaukee. That total is an Air Force Div. I record, eclipsing the previous mark of 16 set by Mollie Peters vs. Texas-Pan American on Nov. 23, 1997. The 19 rebounds ties for the fourth-most in Air Force history, the seventh-highest mark in Mountain West Conference history and the second-highest total by a senior in MWC history.
Most Rebounds In A Game By Air Force
31 Mary Jo Wier vs. New Mexico Highlands, 2/11/77
26 Mary Manning vs. Northern Colorado, 3/11/82
24 Mary Jo Wier vs. Colorado Mines, 2/1/77
19 Kim Kreke vs. Milwaukee, 11/22/08
19 Mary Manning vs. Northern Colorado, 1/29/85
17 Theresa Blad vs. Abilene Christian, 3/8/85
17 Melissa Standley vs. Mesa State, 11/17/89
16 Mollie Peters vs. Texas Pan-American, 11/23/97
Kreke Becomes Div. I Era Shot Block Leader
With four blocked shots against Chadron State and one against Milwaukee, senior Kim Kreke now has 57 blocks for her career. That total is the most Air Force in the Div. I era, surpassing Ellen Jaeshke. Kreke currently ranks 6th all-time in shot blocks.
Most Blocks Career
1. 122, Mary Manning 1981-852. 88, Chris Clausnitzer 1988-923. 79, Leigh Wilbanks 1988-914. 70, Carrie Carrow 1993, 95-965. 64, Stacy Goss 1983-866. 57, Kim Kreke* 2005-pr.7. 56, Ellen Jaeschke* 2004-058. 52, Pamela Findlay* 2004-089. 48, Brooke Cultra* 2005-pr.10. 41, Mollie Peters* 1996-00*Div. I era
Falcons At or Near Top In Several MWC Categories
Air Force is the Mountain West Conference's top defensive and free throw shooting team. The Falcons are allowing just 58.8 points per game and making 83 percent from the line.
The Falcons also rank third in rebounding, pulling down 42 rebounds per game. The Falcons allowed 64.5 points per game, shot 71.4 percent from the line and averaged 35.7 rebounds per game in 2007-08.
MWC Team Defense1. Air Force 58.82. Utah 59.33. UNLV 60.74. New Mexico 61.0
MWC Team Free Throw Percentage1. Air Force 83.02. New Mexico 80.73. TCU 78.64. Utah 77.8
MWC Team Rebounding1. New Mexico 43.02. Colorado State 42.33. Air Force 42.04. San Diego State 41.3
Cultra Off To Strong Senior Campaign
Senior Brooke Cultra is off to a hot start so far this season. Cultra is Air Force's leading scorer, averaging 17.3 points per game and second-leading rebounder, averaging 7.5 boards per game. Cultra is third in the conference in scoring and fourth in rebounding. The senior guard had back-to-back games where she reached her career-high for points in a game. Cultra scored 19 points against Chadron State and 25 against Milwaukee. She recently led the team with 16 points against Texas-Pan American.
Beck Emerging As A Scorer
Despite off-nights against Milwaukee and Texas-Pan American, sophomore shooting guard Raimee Beck is becoming one of the conference's top scorers. Beck ranks second on the team, averaging 11.8 points per game. Beck averaged nine points per game as a freshman point guard. Beck scored 18 points in the season-opener vs. Northern Colorado and 21 points against Chadron State.
Sophomore Class Emerging
Several Air Force sophomores have shown improvement since their freshmen campaigns. Guard Stevie Puentes and center Liz Dunsworth have already surpassed their point and minutes played totals as freshmen and guard Raimee Beck has improved her scoring and rebounding averages.
Beck 2007-08 2008-09 PPG 9.0 11.8 RPG 3.7 6.8 Dunsworth GP-GS 16-0 4-2 MPG 3.7 20.8 PPG 0.6 2.3 RPG 0.6 5.3 Puentes GP-GS 6-0 4-1 MPG 4.2 19.5 PPG 1.7 4.8 APG 0.2 2.8
Lone Junior Schjodt Also Emerges
Kathleen Schjodt, the lone junior on the team, has also provided solid minutes this year. After seeing limited minutes as a freshman and even less time as a sophomore due to injury, the junior has already started in a game and has already surpassed her minutes played the first two years combined.
Schjodt GP-GS 3-0 4-1 MPG 5.0 20.8 PPG 2.3 4.0 RPG 1.0 3.0
Injury Sidelines Loveless For Remainder Of Season
Senior power forward Dana Loveless will miss the remainder of the 2008-09 season after suffering a sprained ankle and torn left ACL in the season-opener against Northern Colorado. Both injuries happened on the same play just eight minutes into the game.
Falcons Picked To Finish Ninth In MWC
In the preseason conference poll released in October, Air Force was chosen by the coaches and select media to finish ninth in the Mountain West.
1. Utah (16) 2062. San Diego State (6) 1843. TCU (2) 1614. New Mexico (2) 1485. BYU 1176. Wyoming 1137. UNLV 808. Colorado State 449. Air Force 36(First Place Votes)
Seven Regular Season Games on TV
A record seven Air Force women's basketball regular season games will be televised. The Falcons will have four games on the Mountain West Sports Network (Mtn.) and games on CBS College Sports (CBS C), Fox Rocky Mountain (Fox RM) and BYU TV. Air Force could also have games televised at the MWC Championships.
Air Force WBB TV Schedule
Nov. 29 Army Mtn.Dec. 10 at Denver Fox RMJan. 3 Navy Mtn.Jan. 7 at San Diego St. CBS CJan. 20 Colorado St. Mtn.Feb. 4 at BYU BYU TVFeb. 21 at Colorado St. Mtn.M 10-14 MWC Tourney Mtn./CBS C/VERSUS
Team Captains
Seniors Brooke Cultra and Kim Kreke have been named team co-captains for the 2008-09 season. Cultra is a three-year letterwinner and returning starter at shooting guard. Kreke is also a three-year letterwinner and returning starter at center.
Nine Letterwinners and Three Starters Return
Nine letterwinners and three starters return for the Falcons.
Sophomore Raimee Beck, senior Brooke Cultra and senior Kim Kreke are Air Forces returning starters.
Senior Dana Loveless, junior Kathleen Schjodt and sophomores Jenny Bandi, Candice Chase, Liz Dunsworth and Stevie Puentes round out the other returners.
Falcons Welcome Five Newcomers
Air Force welcomes five freshmen in 2008-09.
G Ariane Brown - Colorado Springs, CO (Palmer HS)
G Anna Gault - Aurora, IL (Waubonsie Valley HS)
G Kira Gonzalez - Olathe, KS (DeSoto HS)
G Jamela Satterfield - Sacramento, CA (Sheldon HS)
F Amber Wilmore - Colorado Springs, CO (Falcon HS)
Up Next
Air Force hosts Barry University on Monday, Dec. 1. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.
