Air Force Academy
Navy
Beck's Three Sinks Navy In 65-62 Thriller
1/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 3, 2009
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Sophomore Raimee Beck's three-point basket with 23 seconds left in the game rallied Air Force to a thrilling 65-62 win over Navy in women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at Clune Arena. The Falcons rallied back from a 13-point deficit to improve to 4-9. The Midshipmen dropped to 6-8.
Trailing 53-40 with 10:13 left to play in regulation, Air Force came back by outscoring Navy 25-9 over the remainder of the game. Beck and senior Kim Kreke led Air Force with 18 points apiece and senior Brooke Cultra added 12 points.
Navy was led by Cassie Consedine, who notched a double-double with a team-high 16 points and 12 rebounds. Angela Myers also recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
It was a wild finish for the Falcons and Midshipmen, who battled back and forth in the final three minutes of play. Air Force took its first lead of the second half, 59-58, at the 2:26 mark when Beck hit a three. Navy went back ahead with a pair of free throws by Myers.
After a free throw by Kathleen Schjodt tied the game back up at 60-60, Cultra gave the Falcons the lead again on a runner from the right sideline to make it a 62-60 game. Navy came right back as Consedine put in a bucket off a pass from Whitney Davidson to re-tie the game at 62 with 56 seconds to go.
Seconds later, Air Force took the lead for good as Cultra swung the ball across the court to Beck who fired from the left side of the court for the go-ahead basket. Navy had a chance to tie the game, but Davidson's three-point attempt was off and the Falcons picked up the win.
Beck went 6-for-15 from the field and 4-of-7 from three-point range. Kreke notched her fifth double-double of the season with 10 rebounds to go with her 18 points. Cultra added six rebounds and four assists. Freshman Anna Gault also played well for the Falcons, with a team-high six assists.
In the first half Air Force jumped out to an early 8-0 lead, but Navy closed out the half on a 22-5 run to lead 37-30 at the intermission. Air Force actually shot well from the field in the first half, making 54.1 percent from the field, but found themselves trailing.
The Falcons ratcheted up their defense in the second half, forcing eight turnovers, while committing just three. Air Force had a season-low nine turnovers on the night.
Air Force opens Mountain West Conference play Wednesday, Jan. 7, at San Diego State. The game tips-off at 6 p.m. PST and will be televised live on the CBS Sports Network (CBS C).
