Falcons Host Denver
12/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 8, 2009
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Complete Release in PDF Format 
Denver (2-5) vs. Air Force (2-6)
Wednesday, Dec. 9
Tipoff: 7 p.m.
Location: USAF Academy, Colo.
Arena: Clune Arena
Capacity: 5,939
Series: DU leads, 29-22
Last Meeting: DU won 84-42 in Denver on Dec. 10, 2008.
Live Stats & Internet Radio: www.goAirForceFalcons.com
Radio: 1300 AM in Colorado Springs
Radio Talent: Jay Ritchie
Falcons Host Denver
The Air Force women's basketball team hosts Denver this Wednesday, Dec. 9. Live internet radio and stats will be available for the game, which tips off at 7 p.m. in Clune Arena.
2009-10 Falcons
Air Force returns six letterwinners and three starters from last years team. Junior guard Raimee Beck is the Falcons' top returning scorer, averaging 12.9 points per game as a sophomore. Junior center Liz Dunsworth and sophomore point guard Anna Gault also started last year as juniors. Air Force welcomes nine freshmen to the team, the largest freshman class in school history.
Last Outing
Air Force went 1-1 at the 2009 Air Force Classic. The Falcons defeated Chicago State, 68-48, on Friday and dropped an 85-67 game to Drake Saturday. Junior guard Raimee Beck and freshman guard Alicia Leipprandt were named to the all-tournament team.
Scouting Air Force
Air Force is 2-6 on the season. Junior guard Raimee Beck leads the team offensively, scoring 16.1 points per game to go with 8.6 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Anna Gault ranks third in the confernce, averaging 4.5 assists per game. Air Force is averaging 57.8 points per game and allowing 67.9.
Scouting Denver
Denver is 2-5 on the season after falling to UC Davis and defeating San Jose State last week. Sophomore forward Kaetlyn Murdoch leads the team offensively, scoring 14.4 points per game to go with 6.1 rebounds per game. Denver is averaging 58.7 points per game and allowing 65.1.
Series History
- Air Force trails the all-time series vs. Denver 22-29.
- This is the 52nd regular-season meeting between the two schools.
- Denver has been Air Force's opponent the most times of any Falcon opponent.
- The two teams first played in 1977, a 50-60, Air Force loss at Denver.
- Air Force snapped a seven-game losing streak with its 65-56 win over DU in 2007.
Air Force vs. Sun Belt Conference
Air Force is 23-32 all-time in games against the Sun Belt Conference.
Last Meeting vs. Denver
Denver rolled to an 84-42 win over Air Force in women's basketball action Dec. 10, 2008, at Magness Arena. The loss drops the Falcons to 3-6 on the season, while the Pioneers improved to 3-4. The game was close early, but Air Force went cold midway through the first-half and never recovered. Brook Cultra's layup at the 7:22 mark gave the Falcons a 20-18 lead. Air Force then sputtered the rest of the half, as Denver went on a 16-2 run to jump ahead 34-22 at halftime. The Falcons committed 26 turnovers, leading to 29 Pioneer points. Five Denver players reached double-figures in scoring, led by Nnenna Akotaobi's 16 points. Andie Mason came off the bench to score 14 points and was 4-for-4 from three-point range. Air Force's leading scorer was sophomore Raimee Beck, who finished with nine points. Brooke Cultra added eight points and eight rebounds and Anna Gault led Air Force with five assists. Air Force did have a season-high seven blocked shots. Kim Kreke led the way with three blocks for the Falcons.
Drake Game Recap
Drake rallied to defeat Air Force, 85-67, in day two action at the 2009 Air Force Classic Saturday afternoon at Clune Arena. The Bulldogs, who won both of their games at the AF Classic, improved to 5-2. Air Force, which went 1-1 in the classic, dropped to 2-6. Air Force held a 28-27 lead at halftime but Drake, with its aggressive and physical style of play, eventually wore down the young Falcon squad. The Bulldogs outscored AFA 58-39 in the second half, blowing the game open late. Drake senior guard Jordann Plummer earned tournament MVP honors with a game-high 27 points. Forward Rachael Hackbarth followed with 17 points and was also named all-tournament. Kristin Turk also chipped-in with 16 points. Junior guard Raimee Beck led Air Force with 18 points and freshman guard Alicia Leipprandt scored 16 points in 15 minutes. Both Beck and Leipprandt were named to the all-tournament team. Freshman forward Kelsey Berger also played well for the Falcons, scoring a career-high 11 points. With a significant height advantage down low, Drake was able to pull down 19 offensive rebounds in the game and was able to take 61 shots in the game, compared to AFA's 44. Air Force had its best shooting night of the season, hitting 52.3 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three-point range. Air Force led for much of the game, but Drake tied the game up at 56 with 9:04 to go and went ahead for good just 30 seconds later. The Bulldogs went on to outscore the Falcons 29-11 the rest of the way.
Chicago State Game Recap
Alicia Leipprandt and Raimee Beck combined for 35 points to lead Air Force (2-5) to an emphatic 68-48 win over Chicago State (3-6) in day one action at the 2009 Air Force Classic, Friday night at Clune Arena. Leading 41-37 early in the second-half, the Falcons went on a 14-0 run that ultimately decided the game. The Falcons out-scored the Cougars 38-22 in the second half, after leading 30-26 at halftime. The duo of Beck and Leipprandt combined to score 27 of the Falcons' points in the second. In just 19 minutes, Leipprandt notched a career-high 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field. The freshman guard was also 4-of-5 from three-point range. Beck finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds to earn her third double-double of the season. After being held to just two points in the first-half, Beck rebounded with 13 in the second. Senior forward Kathleen Schjodt continued her productive shooting, scoring 10 points on 3-for-5 shooting, including a perfect 4-for-4 performance from the line. Sophomore guard Anna Gault also had game-high's of seven assists and five steals. Chicago State was led by the sister duo of Alyssa and Courtney Waldon. Alyssa led the Cougars with 15 points and four assists and Courtney scored 14 points and notched a team-high nine rebounds.
Beck Leading The Way For Falcons
Junior guard Raimee Beck is off to a strong start so far in 2009-10. Beck had led Air Force in scoring all but twice and had led the team in rebounding every game. She amongst the MWC top 10 in several categories.
Gault Amongst MWC Leaders In Assists, Steals
Sophomore point guard Anna Gault ranks amongst the MWC top five in assists and steals. Gault is third in assists, averaging 4.5 per game. She is fifth in steals, averaging 2.3 per game. Gault is already 10th all-time (Div. I era) in assists at Air Force.
Freshmen Make Immediate Impact
Four Falcon freshmen are already already making immediate impacts for the Falcons. Four of Air Force's top six scorers are freshmen. Rookies Alicia Leipprandt, Katie Hilbig, Dymond James and Kelsey Berger, rank second-through-sixth in scoring for the Falcons.
Leipprandt Developing Into Scoring Threat
Freshman guard Alicia Leipprant is starting to make opponents take notice with her scoring ability. Over her last three games, Leipprandt has scored 48 points in 50 minutes to average 16.0 ppg in just 16.7 mpg. The Ubly, Mich., native scored a career-high 20 points in the win over Chicago State and followed with 16 points against Drake, earning Air Force Classic all-tournament honors. Leipprandt is second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.1 ppg despite ranking eighth in minutes per game.
Team Captains
Senior Kathleen Schjodt and junior Raimee Beck have been named team co-captains for the 2009-10 season. Schjodt is a three-year letterwinner at forward. Beck is a two-year letterwinner and returning starter at guard.
Six Letterwinners and Three Starters Return
Six letterwinners and three starters return for the Falcons. Juniors Raimee Beck and Liz Dunsworth and sophomore Anna Gault are Air Forces returning starters. Senior Kathleen Schjodt, junior Candice Chase and sophomore Jamela Satterfield round out the other returners. In addition, sophomore Kira Gonzalez, who did not play in any game as a freshman, also returns.
Falcons Welcome Nine Newcomers
Air Force welcomes nine freshmen in 2009-10, its largest rookie class in school history.
F Kelsey Berger (Mentor, Ohio)
G Bethany Gross (Alexandria, S.D.)
F Katie Hilbig (Castle Rock, Colo.)
F Dymond James (Brambleton, Va.)
G Alicia Leipprandt (Ubly, Mich.)
G Megan Muñiz (Rio Rancho, N.M.)
G Danielle Sorrera (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)
G Austyn Wilson (Dallas, Texas)
G Desiree Wilson (Morrow, Ga.)
Up Next
Air Force hosts Bradley on Sat., Dec. 19. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m.
