Air Force Women's Hoops 2009-10 Outlook
11/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 2, 2009
Despite featuring one of the youngest squads in the nation, the Air Force women's basketball team looks to play a solid brand of basketball in 2009-10. Guided by returning all-conference junior guard Raimee Beck, the young Falcons are poised to soar to new heights.
With 13 underclassmen on the roster of 16, including the largest freshman class in school history, head coach Ardie McInelly will be counting upon several young players to step their game up. Helping ease the transition for the younger players will be senior Kathleen Schjodt and a trio of juniors who will be stepping into elder-stateman roles.
Air Force returns three starters in Beck, junior center Liz Dunsworth and sophomore point guard Anna Gault. The Falcons look to replace two graduated starters in guard Brooke Cultra and center Kim Kreke.
"We are so young, its going to take some time to see what we've got," McInelly, in her ninth year at the Academy, said. "But our team captains Kathleen Schjodt and Raimee Beck have done a great job of keeping our returners and newcomers accountable in offseason workouts. Their leadership will help make our team more successful in accomplishing our goals this year."
With just four players on the roster over six-feet, the tallest being Liz Dunsworth at 6-foot-2, the Falcons will have to overachieve on the boards and play a stellar brand of defense. Despite the height disadvantage, the Falcon coaching staff feels the team can play quicker players at some of the post positions, giving opponents mismatches on the offensive end.
"Team speed can be an area of strength for us," assistant coach Kirk Crawford said. "I think we have the ability, especially in the post, to use our quickness to our advantage. We have some young players at forward that can create off the dribble and give the opponents some fits with their ability to put the ball on the floor."
Below is a quick breakdown of the 2009-10 Air Force women's basketball team.
Upperclassmen
Although the Falcons are a team comprised predominantly of underclassmen, it will be the four upperclassmen who lead the way for the Falcons. Air Force has one senior and three juniors who will be called upon to produce significantly in 2009-10.
As the lone senior and three-year letterwinner, Kathleen Schjodt will be counted upon to be one of the Falcon leaders, both on and off the court. A co-team captain, Schjodt was Air Force's top scoring threat off the bench as a junior, averaging 4.7 points per game. Although undersized in the post, Schjodt has the ability to hit shots from outside and will look to increase her role in the offense.
"Kathleen is developing into a strong leader for us," McInelly said. "She is better suited to play the three, but has had to play the four for us due to our lack of size. Kathleen has a strong outside game offensively, and we look for her to contribute more on the offensive end of the court."
Junior guard Raimee Beck is Air Force's top returning offensive threat. Beck led the Falcons in scoring as a sophomore, averaging 12.9 points per game and garnered all-Mountain West Conference honors. Her 386 points last year tied Air Force's Division I era record and her 2.5 three-point basket's and 36.4 minutes played per game were tops in the MWC. Despite opponents often times double-teaming her, Beck made 72 threes as a sophomore, hitting 38.3 percent of her attempts.
"Raimee enters her junior year as our top offensive producer," McInelly said. "She's a prolific three-point shooter and for us to be successful, she's got to score even more for us this year. The opposition's defenses know she can shoot from outside, so we're looking for Raimee to put the ball on the floor and get more scoring off the dribble."
Junior Liz Dunsworth is Air Force's top returning post player. As a sophomore, the center started 25 of 30 games and averaged 4.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. With the departure of center Kreke to graduation, Dunsworth will see a bigger role on the offensive end and will be asked to contribute more on defense.
"Liz is our biggest post player and we're going to be asking a lot out of her as a junior," McInelly said. "With the graduation of Kim, we look for Liz to step into the role as our dominant post player that can score and rebound effectively for us."
After an injury-riddled first two years, forward Candice Chase looks to make her mark for the Falcons. One of Air Force's top three-point shooters, a healthy Chase will be a valuable asset for the Falcons.
"Candice has had a bad run of injuries her first two years but we're hoping she stays healthy this year," McInelly said. "She can extend the defense with her ability to shoot the three. We just need her to stay healthy so she can help us out this year, because she can shoot the ball."
Sophomores
With a year's experience at the Division I stage, the sophomores look poised to take their game to the next level. Three sophomores look to step up their game after several saw extended minutes as freshmen.
Anna Gault looks to build upon a solid freshman campaign that saw her start the last 29 games at point guard. Gault led the team, and all Mountain West Conference freshmen, with 99 assists. Gault had a pair of 10-assist games last year, the first Falcon to reach double-figures in assists in a game since 2002.
"Anna has improved her ball handling, shooting and leadership skills this offseason," McInelly said. "She's become more comfortable in her role as a leader and we hope the added confidence will show in her play. We look for Anna to run the offense effectively and get our players into the right places."
Jamela Satterfield was one of the Falcons' top reserves a season ago, appearing in 29 games and averaging 13 minutes per game. A lanky guard with a strong defensive presence, Satterfield will see an expanded role in her second season.
"Jamela is an athletic player that will play a couple roles for us," McInelly said. "Due to our lack of size, she may be forced to play some forward for us, as she has proven ability to play defense. We look for Jamela to continue to develop her offensive game in addition to her defense."
Kira Gonzalez looks to make an impact in her second year with the program. Gonzalez did not see game action as a freshman, but the hard-working guard from Olathe, Kan., progressed in offseason workouts and will push to see an expanded role as a sophomore.
"Kira was a practice player for us last year, but she's improved in the offseason and looks ready to contribute for us this year. She's a gym rat and her love for the game rubs off on the whole team."
Freshmen
The nine freshmen comprise Air Force's largest rookie class ever and the biggest since the 2003-04 season featured eight. Six guards and three forwards look to contribute right from the get go.
"These freshmen are extremely poised and have great basketball minds," McInelly said. "The smart basketball instincts they possess will help them significantly as they adjust to the speed of Division I basketball."
Freshman Kelsey Berger, a 5-foot-11 forward from Mentor, Ohio, has been one of the standout freshmen so far in early-season workouts. Berger has shown the ability to hit the open shots in practice and will provide the Falcons with offense.
"Kelsey has shown the ability to hit some shots from the perimeter and that will help extend the oppositions' defense," McInelly said. "She has a high basketball IQ and has shown that she has a grasp of what we're trying to accomplish."
Another freshman that has impressed early is Alicia Leipprandt, a 5-foot-9 guard from Ubly, Mich. Leipprandt has the ability to play the point and two-guard and will push for immediate playing time.
"Alicia is another player with a good basketball IQ," assistant coach Kirk Crawford said. "She's going to be a solid four-year player for us."
Freshmen Dymond James and Katie Hilbig will see time in the post at the four position. Both are more suited for the small forward position but will be asked to contribute to the power forward slot due to team needs.
"Both Dymond and Katie will be asked to play down low for us early in their careers," McInelly said. "Further down the road, we may play them at the three. But with our team needs, we feel they have the skills necessary to help us in the post."
James, who is 5-foot-11, is a highly heralded recruit from St. John's High School in Washington D.C. The Brambleton, Va., native had a stellar prep career, with over 1,000 points and 1,200 rebounds, and averaged a double-double for her career.
Hilbig, who is six-foot tall, was a four-year standout at nearby Douglas County High School in Castle Rock. Hilbig was a two-time participant in "The Show," Colorado's high school all-star game.
"Katie is very athletic, has some length and can cover some ground for us defensively," McInelly said. "Dymond gives us a little bulk down low and is also a very athletic rebounder. We feel that both have the speed to cause some matchup problems against bigger opponents on the offensive end, as both have strong face-up games."
The Falcons also have five more freshman guards, in Bethany Gross, Megan Muñiz, Danielle Sorrera, Austyn Wilson and Desiree Wilson, who look to push for minutes.
"We have several options at guard out of our freshmen," McInelly said. "Bethany has progressed well for us, as have Megan, Austyn, Danielle and Desiree. They continue to show improvement with every practice and they will all be counted upon to contribute immediately."
Gross, a 5-foot-7 point guard, will be worked into the Falcon offense as a backup to Gault. Gross is another athletic freshman, owning several track records during her prep career at Hanson High School in Alexandria, S.D.
Muñiz, a 5-foot-7 shooting guard from Rio Rancho, N.M., will be another offensive threat from the outside. The 2009 New Mexico Gatorade Player of the Year, Muñiz led Rio Rancho High School to a 27-3 record as a senior and finished her career as the second-leading scorer in school history.
"Bethany has shown us some good athleticism and will be a solid guard for us," McInelly said. "Megan is another player with the ability to shoot for us, and will be a solid perimeter scorer."
Austyn Wilson, a 5-foot-7 guard from Dallas, Texas, and Desiree Wilson, a 5-foot-7 guard from Morrow, Ga., bring some athleticism at the two-guard position. Both have shown the ability to slash to the basket and will see some minutes. In addition, Danielle Sorrera possesses some good height at the guard position, standing at 5-foot-10.
"Austyn, Danielle and Desiree all show a lot of athleticsm," McInelly said. "They have continued to show development in practices and we look for them to contribute."
