Falcons Host 13th Annual Air Force Classic
12/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 4, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
2008 Air Force Classic
Friday-Saturday, Dec. 5-6, 2008
Friday, Dec. 5
North Carolina Central vs. Air Force, 5 p.m.
Miami (Ohio) vs. Texas-Pan American, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 6
Consolation Final, 2 p.m.
Championship Game, 4:30 p.m.
Location: Clune Arena (5,939) USAF Academy, Colo.
Live Stats: www.goairforcefalcons.com
Internet Radio: (For Air Force games only)
www.goairforcefalcons.com
Radio Talent: Tony Desiere
Falcons Host 13th Annual Air Force Classic
The Air Force women's basketball team hosts the 2008 Air Force Classic, thus Fri.-Sat., Dec. 5-6, in Clune Arena at the Air Force Academy. The Falcons take on North Carolina Central on Friday at 5 p.m., followed by Miami (Ohio) taking on Texas-Pan American at 7:30 p.m. Saturday kicks off with the consolation final at 2 p.m., followed by the championship game at 4:30. Live internet radio will be available for both Air Force games.
Air Force Classic History
- Air Force is 10-14 all-time in the Air Force Classic.
- Air Force has never won the Classic in its 12 years of existence.
- Air Force's first-ever win as a Div. I program came in the First game of the first-ever Air Force Classic. The Falcons defeated Army, 66-60, on Dec. 6, 1996.
Year Champion2007 Utah ValleyG1 Air Force 85, Hampton 84 (OT)G2 Utah Valley 81, Ohio 79G3 Ohio 70, Hampton 64G4 Utah Valley 78, Air Force 682006 Western MichiganG1 Air Force 67, Yale 55G2 Western Michigan 95, UT-Pan American 77G3 Yale 62, Texas-Pan American 49G4 Western Michigan 71, Air Force 542005 Stephen F. AustinG1 Air Force 58, Bucknell 41G2 Stephen F. Austin 82, High Point 81G3 Bucknell 71, High Point 60G4 Stephen F. Austin 67, Air Force 632004 Louisiana-LafayetteG1 Montana State 74, Air Force 73, OTG2 Louisiana-Lafayette 72, UC Davis 71G3 Air Force 75, UC Davis 61G4 Louisiana-Lafayette 57, Montana State 392003 Texas-Pan AmericanG1 Texas-Pan American 68, Air Force 67G2 Dayton 73, Boise State 71G3 Boise State 71, Air Force 66G4 Texas-Pan American 63, Dayton 572002 MinnesotaG1 Air Force 78, Winthrop 71G2 Minnesota 85, New Orleans 75G3 Winthrop 71, New Orleans 64G4 Minnesota 88, Air Force 752001 BinghamtonG1 Binghamton 54, Air Force 46G2 Binghamton 63, Drexel 57G3 Drexel 77, Air Force 762000 North TexasG1 North Texas 67, UAB 54G2 Air Force 68, Lamar 57G3 UAB 77, Lamar 60G4 North Texas 66, Air Force 431999 PennG1 Loyola-Chicago 64, Air Force 58G2 Penn 83, Lafayette 73G3 Air Force 78, Lafayette 56G4 Penn 91, Loyola-Chicago 781998 Western MichiganG1 Wyoming 65, Loyola Marymount 53G2 Western Michigan 87, Air Force 67G3 Western Michigan 84, Wyoming 71G4 Air Force 83, Loyola Marymount 721997 Idaho StateG1 Air Force 59, Weber State 53G2 Idaho State 79, Wyoming 73G3 Wyoming 68, Weber State 63G4 Idaho State 79, Air Force 581996 WyomingG1 Air Force 66, Army 60G2 Wyoming 57, Cal State Fullerton 56G3 Cal State Fullerton 71, Air Force 50G4 Wyoming 79, Army 53
Scouting Air Force
Air Force is 2-4 on the season after defeating Barry University on Monday, Dec. 1. Senior guard Brooke Cultra leads the team offensively, scoring 15.5 points per game to go with 6.8 rebounds per game. Senior Kim Kreke is the top rebounder in the conference averaging 12.7 boards per game. Air Force also entered the week as the #2 free throw shooting team in the nation, having made 83 percent from the line prior to their game vs. Barry.
Scouting North Carolina Central
North Carolina Central is 0-8 on the season after falling at Bethune-Cookman 62-56 on Monday. The Eagles, from Durham, N.C., are averaging 46.1 points per game and allowing 74.6 ppg. NCCU is led by junior guard/forward Jori Nwachukwu, who leads the team with 14.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
Scouting Miami
Miami is 3-2 on the season after defeating Wright State 77-60 on Tuesday. The RedHawks, from Oxford, Ohio and members of the Mid-American Conference, are averaging 69.2 points per game and allowing 66.0 ppg. Miami is led by senior guard Jenna Schone, who leads the team with 16.0 points and 4.0 assists per game.
Scouting Texas-Pan American
Texas-Pan American is 4-2 on the season after defeating Rider 57-52 on Monday. The Lady Broncos are averaging 61.7 points per game and allowing 54.8 ppg. Texas-Pan American's is led by senior guard Teshay Winfrey, who leads the team with 14.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
Series History vs. Opponents
- Air force plays North Carolina Central for the first-time ever. The Falcons have also never player Miami.
- Air Force is 3-2 all-time against Texas-Pan American. The two teams first met on Nov. 23, 1997, an 84-52 Air Force win at the Academy. The teams last played each other a few weeks back on Nov. 26, a 53-41 UTPA win in Edinburg, Texas.
11-23-97 USAFA, CO W 84-5212-20-97 San Antonio, TX W 62-481-9-03 Edinburg, TX W 64-6111-21-03 USAFA, CO L (OT) 67-6811-26-08 Edinburg, TX L 41-53
Last Meeting vs. UTPA
The Air Force women's basketball team dropped a 53-41 game at Texas-Pan American Wednesday, Nov. 26, at the UTPA Field House in Edinburg, Texas.
Utilizing a stifling trap-defense, UTPA scored the first 15 points of the game and held Air Force to just two shot attempts in the first six minutes of the game. Air Force did not scored till the 9:58 mark in the first period, when Raimee Beck hit a jump shot.
The Falcons made just 4-of-20 shot attempts in the first-half and trailed 35-12 at the half. The Lady Broncs meanwhile canned seven of their nine three-point baskets in the first half.
The Falcons went to a zone defense in the second half, neutralizing UTPA's three-point scoring, and clawed their way back into the game. Air Force also began to figure out the trap-defense and eventually whittled the margin down to within six points, trailing 47-41 after a Brooke Cultra three-pointer with 3:11 left in the game.
The big first-half deficit was too much to overcome however, as the Lady Broncs held on for the win. Teshay Winfrey led UTPA with game-high's of 17 points and 14 rebounds. Maria Erlingsdottir also had 17 points to go with four rebounds.
Cultra led Air Force with 16 points, all coming in the second-half. Kim Kreke added nine points and 13 rebounds. It was Kreke's fourth-consecutive game with 11-or-more rebounds this year. Stevie Puentes also played well for the Falcons, with eight points and a team-leading five assists in 32 minutes off the bench.
Opponent Connections
- UTPA freshman forward Brittany Demery attended Milwood HS in Oklahoma City, Okla. Air Force 2008 grad Alecia Steele, Air Force's all-time leading scorer in the Div. I era (1,237 pts), also attended Millwood and is a native of OKC.
Barry Game Recap
A pair of double-digit scoring runs lifted Air Force to a 56-43 win over Barry University in women's basketball action Monday night at Clune Arena.
In a game filled with several runs, Air Force utilized a 17-0 run in the first half and a 20-0 run in the second half to pull away with the win.
Barry opened up the game scoring the first nine points and eventually went up 18-9 at the 10:51 mark. The Falcons then proceeded to go on the 17-0 run and out-scored the Buccaneers 19-3 over the rest of the half to take a 28-21 halftime lead.
Air Force could not maintain the lead however, as Barry rallied back in the second half and jumped back in front 39-34 with 10:20 to go in regulation. The Falcons again did not panic and came back with a 20-0 run to reclaim the lead 54-39. Air Force outscored Barry 22-4 over the final 10 minutes of the game.
Raimee Beck snapped out of a scoring slump, tying her career- and season-high with 21 points to go with seven rebounds. The sophomore was 8-of-17 from the floor and hit three, three-point baskets. Senior Brooke Cultra also reached double-figures in scoring, with 16 points, 14 coming in the second half.
Sophomores Liz Dunsworth and Kathleen Schjodt also had strong games for the Falcons. Dunsworth had a career-high 10 rebounds and Schjodt tied her career-high with nine points in 27 solid minutes off the bench. After a slow first-half, guard Anna Gault finished strong and ended up with a career-high six assists.
Senior Kim Kreke had nine rebounds in 20 foul-plagued minutes for Air Force. It was Kreke's first game this year where she failed to get double-digit rebounds. Kreke played just two minutes in the first half after collecting two quick fouls.
Barry was led by Mariesa Green, who scored nine points to go with 13 rebounds. Lucy Martinez and Princess Bailey both added eight points as well.
Air Force played solid defense all night, holding Barry to a season-low 43 points. The Buccaneers shot just 21.9 percent from the floor.
MWC's Top Defense
Air Force has the Mountain West Conference's top team defense, allowing 55.3 points per game. That total is nearly nine points per game fewer than the all-time Div. I era school record of 64.1 ppg by the 2004-05 team. The Falcons have held five of their six opponents to 57 or fewer points.
MWC Team Defense
1. Air Force 55.32. New Mexico 58.13. Wyoming 62.34. Utah 63.2
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 57.8 points per game and making 82.3 percent from the line.
Air Force entered the week ranked second in the nation in free throw percentage.
The Falcons also rank third in rebounding, pulling down 41 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 Defense
1. Air Force 55.32. New Mexico 58.13. Wyoming 62.34. Utah 63.2
MWC Team Free Throw Percentage
1. Air Force 82.32. Utah 80.23. New Mexico 78.44. TCU 77.7
MWC Team Rebounding
1. New Mexico 43.62. UNLV 41.63. Air Force 41.04. Colorado State 40.3
Kreke MWC's Top Rebounder
Kim Kreke leads the Mountain West Conference with 12.7 rebounds per game. The next closest player is UNLV's Shamela Hampton with 10.7 rebounds per game. Kreke averaged 4.6 rebounds per game as a junior. She has at least 11 rebounds in all five of six games this year.
MWC Individual Rebounding 1. Kim Kreke, Air Force 12.7 2. Shamela Hampton, UNLV 10.7 3.Morgan Warburton, Utah 8.2 4.Paris Johnson, SDSU 7.9 5. Megan McGuffey, Wyo. 7.5
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, 2/11/7726 Mary Manning vs. Northern Colorado, 3/11/8224 Mary Jo Wier vs. Colorado Mines, 2/1/7719 Kim Kreke vs. Milwaukee, 11/22/0819 Mary Manning vs. Northern Colorado, 1/29/8517 Theresa Blad vs. Abilene Christian, 3/8/8517 Melissa Standley vs. Mesa State, 11/17/8916 Mollie Peters vs. Texas Pan-American, 11/23/97
Kreke Becomes Div. I Era Shot Block Leader
Senior Kim Kreke currently has 60 blocks for her career. That total is the most Air Force in the Div. I era, surpassing Ellen Jaeschke. 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. 60, 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
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 15.4 points per game and third-leading rebounder, averaging 6.8 boards per game. Cultra is eighth in the conference in scoring and sixth 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 and also scored 16 against Barry.
Beck Becoming Big-Time Scorer
After making the switch to shooting guard, sophomore shooting guard Raimee Beck is becoming one of the conference's top scorers and rebounders. Beck ranks second on the team, averaging 12.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game . Beck averaged nine points per game as a freshman point guard. Beck scored 18 points in the season-opener vs. Northern Colorado has tied her career-high with 21 points against Chadron State and Barry.
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 12.5 RPG 3.7 7.0 Dunsworth GP-GS 16-0 6-4 MPG 3.7 22.2 PPG 0.6 2.2 RPG 0.6 6.0 Puentes GP-GS 6-0 6-1 MPG 4.2 18.3 PPG 1.7 3.8 APG 0.2 2.0
Schjodt Becomes Top Reserve Threat
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 6-1 MPG 5.0 22.0 PPG 2.3 5.0 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 ScheduleNov. 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 heads up I-25 to take on Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 10. The game tips off at 6 p.m. and will be televised on Fox Sports Rocky Mountain.
