Air Force Women's Basketball 2008-09 Season Outlook
11/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 4, 2008
Playing strong defense and taking care of the ball. Those are two main points of emphasis for the Air Force women's basketball team in 2008-09. If the team can accomplish those two aspects of the game, Falcon head coach Ardie McInelly believes the team can have a successful season and improve upon a solid 2007-08 campaign.
Air Force has two significant holes to fill in its starting lineup as significant four-year contributors Pamela Findlay and Alecia Steele are gone to graduation. Findlay was an all-Mountain West Conference honorable mention selection as a versatile guard/forward last year. Steele is Air Force's all-time leading scorer in the Div. I era with 1,237 career points and was a four-time all-MWC selection and four-time team MVP.
The Falcons will not be rebuilding from scratch however, as three starters return. Sophomore guard Raimee Beck and senior team-captains, guard Brooke Cultra and center Kim Kreke are returning starters and were Air Force's third, fourth and fifth-leading scorers a season ago. Complementing the three returning starters are six other returning letter winners, including top returning reserve Dana Loveless, who looks to jump into a permanent starting role at forward as a senior.
In addition, Air Force welcomes four talented freshmen who look to contribute immediately. Three athletic guards and a forward comprise the Falcons' rookie class, which features two hometown players from Colorado Springs.
"For us to be successful this year, we have to play really great half-court defense," McInelly said. "We also have to do a great job of controlling the boards and also must take care of the ball."
Air Force is coming off a solid 2007-08 season in which the Falcons went 10-19 overall and 4-12 in Mountain West Conference play. The seventh-place finish in MWC play was its highest ever. Air Force hit some significant benchmarks last year highlighted by defeating BYU for the first time ever and finishing with a winning 7-6 home record, the first Falcon team to do so in the Div. I era. Air Force also held three opponents to its fewest points ever scored in games against the Falcons.
"Obviously, losing players like Pam and Alecia is tough," McInelly said. "But we've got a good mix of returners and a promising group of freshmen. We're looking for our returners to step up their game and I'm confident they will do so."
Seniors
Air Force has three seniors on the roster this year in Cultra, Kreke and Loveless. All three have shown considerable growth in their three prior years at the Academy and look to be the team leaders and set the tone as seniors.
Kreke, a 6-foot-4 shot-blocking machine, will handle the starting duties at center for the second-consecutive year. Kreke ranked fifth in the MWC with 31 blocks as a junior. That total is the most in a season in the Div. I era at Air Force. In addition, Kreke can step back and hit from three-point range, making 12 treys last year.
"Kim has developed into an excellent player for us," McInelly said. "She has dedicated herself in the weight room and improved her strength considerably from her freshman year. We are going to ask a lot out of Kim this year offensively and defensively. For us to be successful, Kim is going to have to be a defensive presence and be a factor on offense."
Kreke averaged 5.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in 28 starts as a junior. She hit 33.3 of her three-point shots and made 71.1 percent of her free throw attempts.
Brooke Cultra will enter her second year as the starting three-guard. A player that can play multiple positions based on personnel, Cultra will also be asked to step up her game as a senior. Cultra will look to improve upon her 7.5 points per game average as she is asked to play a more significant role in the offense. Despite playing guard, Cultra averaged 4.5 rebounds per game and was second on the team with 29 blocked shots.
"Brooke is another player we look for to step up offensively and defensively," McInelly said. "She is one of our most committed players both on and off the court and that speaks volumes for the type of player and person that she is. We look for Brooke to score more consistently this year and continue to rebound well from the three-guard spot."
Dana Loveless rounds out the senior class and has big shoes to fill. The ever-improving senior looks to fill the forward spot vacated by the graduation of Alecia Steele. Subbing in when Steele was injured, Loveless started five games at forward last year and appears ready to take hold of a permanent starting slot.
"Dana has worked hard at becoming a solid player," McInelly said. "She has learned to use her athletic ability better and we look to put her into some isolation plays and let her go score for us. We feel that she can take any defender in a one-on-one situation now. The key for Dana is to continue improvement on her post defense."
Loveless shot .432 from the field and grabbed 2.9 rebounds per game as a junior. She also averaged 3.3 points per game.
"Our senior class has to set the tone for us," McInelly said. "They've put in the hard work and grown so much in their three years prior. We look for significant contributions from our seniors and for them to provide the leadership to make us successful."
Juniors and Sophomores
Air Force has one junior and five sophomores this year. This group has been slowed by injuries and looks to stay healthy and provide significant contributions to the team this year.
Kathleen Schjodt is the lone junior on the team. After missing most of last year with a foot-fracture, Schjodt is looking to find a spot in the rotation at forward. Although she will play mostly in the post, the coaching staff feels Schjodt can step back and hit some outside shots if given an open look.
"Kathleen is a player that can give us some perimeter offense," McInelly said. "She's worked really hard in the weight room and we look forward to having her healthy this year. The key for Kathleen is to continue to improve defensively and be able to produce for us down low."
Raimee Beck, a 5-foot-8 sophomore guard from Blackfoot, Idaho, looks to be more involved on the offensive end as she makes the transition off the point to shooting guard. Beck started all 28 games she appeared in as a freshman, leading the team averaging 35 minutes per game. Beck canned 48 three-pointers as a frosh, which is the fifth-most in a season at Air Force.
"Raimee's numbers as a freshman speak for themselves," McInelly said. "We plan on moving her to her natural position as a shooting guard and expect her to be a significant force for us on the offensive end. She's a pure-shooter who will be counted upon to increase her offensive production."
Beck is Air Force's top returning scorer, averaging 9.0 points per game and was second on the team averaging 2.4 assists per game.
Liz Dunsworth, a 6-foot-2, center from Rock Island, Ill., will be another underclassman expected to up her game as a sophomore. Dunsworth is Air Force's second-tallest player but probably their biggest presence down low at the center position. Dunsworth saw action in 16 games as a frosh and will be counted upon even more this year.
"Liz has shown significant improvement from her freshman year," McInelly said. "She's a strong player that's beginning to get used to the speed of Div. I basketball. So far in early fall practices, Liz has been tenacious on the boards and we hope that carries over into the games this year."
Candice Chase, a 5-foot-11 guard from Lakewood, Colo., is another sophomore looking to breakout. Chase suffered an ankle injury early in the season last year and was never able to fully get back on track. She has returned this year with an improved shot and the coaching staff looks for Chase to provide some scoring from the outside as a two- and three-guard.
"Candice has returned with a much improved shot," associate head coach Lisa Robinson said. "She has shown the ability to knock down some three-pointers and is much improved in her mid-range game. We look for her to provide some offense for us this year."
Jenny Bandi, a 6-foot-2, forward/guard from Winchester, Mass., is another player pushing for increased minutes. A lanky forward who will see most time at the four and possibly some three, has also shown significant improvement from a season ago.
"Jenny is one of the hardest workers on the team and the effort she puts in on the court and in the weight room has been a great example to her teammates," Robinson said. "She runs the court well and her length will allow her to block some shots and get some rebounds as well."
Rounding out the sophomore class is Stevie Puentes, a 5-foot-7 guard from Rio Rancho, N.M. Another player who was derailed by injuries, Puentes was limited to six games due to a stress fracture as a freshman. Puentes can provide some effective floor management at the point and is one of the teams' best passers.
"We look for Stevie to provide us with some quality minutes at the point," Robinson said. "Stevie can get the ball down the court very well and can score off the dribble for us. In addition, she's an excellent passer. We just look for her to improve her strength and be fully recovered from her injuries so she can give us another option at the point."
"Our sophomore class is just beginning to emerge," McInelly said. "Some were slowed by injuries and some were playing behind our starters and were just not ready yet. We see this year as an opportunity for these ladies to come in and contribute significantly. We'll need them to play well if we are going to be successful."
Freshmen
Four freshmen join the squad for Air Force. Three guards and a forward look to jump in and make an immediate impact for the Falcons.
Anna Gault is a highly-heralded 5-foot-4 freshman from Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Ill. Gault is vying for the starting point guard job.
"Anna has already shown the ability and desire to run our offense," McInelly said. "She is a true point guard who can get the ball upcourt and distribute it accordingly. She has been very vocal in running the offense and we look for her to have a strong freshman year for us."
Jamela Satterfield, a 5-foot-9 guard from Sheldon High School in Sacramento, Calif., provides Air Force with some needed athleticism. Satterfield has been described by the coaches as a slashing-type guard with the ability to score off the dribble.
"Jamela has a nose for the ball and finds a way to get to the ball off the boards," McInelly said. "She brings some athleticism to the team and is someone who can hit the mid-range jumper or get to the hoop for us."
Ariane Brown, a 5-foot-8 guard from Palmer High School in Colorado Springs, is another guard that brings some athleticism to the team.
"Ariane, like Jamela, is a versatile guard that can get into the paint and score for us. She runs the floor well and has some strong instincts defensively that we hope to be able to utilize this year."
Both Satterfield and Brown come to the Academy from the USAFA Prep School.
Amber Wilmore, a 6-foot-1 forward from Falcon High School in nearby Falcon is a forward that will contribute in the post.
"Amber has a pretty decent outside shot," McInelly said. "We just need to develop her inside game and continue her development in the post. Amber and Ariane are local girls so it should be fun for the community to watch them progress."
"The freshman class is very talented," McInelly said. "They're getting accustomed to the speed of the game right now. Once they feel more comfortable with Div. I ball, I believe our freshman will contribute immediately, especially on the defensive end."
