Air Force Academy
BYU
Falcons Get Past BYU, 54-49, on Senior Day
3/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 1, 2008
USAFA, Colo. - A three-pointer from junior center Kim Kreke (Salem, Ill.) with 32 seconds remaining helped lead the Air Force women's basketball team a 54-49 victory over BYU Saturday afternoon at Clune Arena. The win came as the senior class celebrated its last home game at the Academy. Air Force, on a two-game win streak, improves to 10-16 overall, 4-10 in the MWC, while BYU falls to 13-13, 7-7 in the conference.
"I think our players are elated to end the year at home like we did for our seniors," said Air Force head coach Ardie McInelly. "I'm very proud of our team. We've made a lot of progress throughout the year, and we had a bunch of different players step up and makes plays for us down the stretch."
The game was close throughout, particularly in the second half, which included seven ties and nine lead changes. A jumper by BYU's Shawnee Slade gave the Cougars a 49-47 advantage with one minute remaining in regulation, before Kreke drained the three-pointer to put Air Force back on top. The Falcons iced the victory, its first ever against BYU, with four free throws in the final 13 seconds, as senior Pamela Findlay (Glenview, Ill.) and Kreke each went 2-for-2 at the line.
BYU led by as many as six points with 1:37 remaining in the first half, but a three-pointer by freshman Raimee Beck (Blackfoot, Idaho) and a layup by senior Jamie Davis (Fresno, Calif.) cut the margin to 24-23 at the half.
Air Force had strong production from its senior class, led by Alecia Steele (Oklahoma City, Okla.), who recorded 15 points and 12 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season and 21st of her career. Steele, the Falcons' top scorer at the Division I level, now ranks sixth on Air Force's all-time scoring list. Meanwhile, Findlay added nine points, four rebounds and a team-high three assists, and Davis pitched in seven points, two assists and two steals.
Also scoring in double-figures for the Falcons was Beck with 10 points and a game-high four steals. Meanwhile, Slade and Cassie King led the Cougars with 10 points each.
Air Force is on the road for its final two games of the regular season, starting with a contest at TCU on Wednesday, March 5.
