Air Force Academy
TCU
Air Force Drops Close 67-57 Contest to TCU
2/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 18, 2009
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - The Air Force women's basketball team dropped a 67-57 Mountain West Conference game to TCU on "Think Pink" Wednesday night at Clune Arena. The Falcons dropped to 4-21, 0-12 while the Horned Frogs improved to 17-8, 9-3.
Air Force had one of its strongest games in conference play, making nine three-point baskets and going a perfect 6-for-6 from the line. The Falcons shot 45 percent from three-point range on the day.
The game was close throughout, but TCU was able to put together runs whenever Air Force threatened. The trio of Emily Carter, T.K. LaFleur and Helena Sverrisdottir combined to score 54 of the Frogs' 67 points. Carter led TCU with 20 points, making 4-of-7 from three-point range. LaFleur scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Sverrisdottir scored 16 to go with eight rebounds and six assists.
Air Force got a big nights out of Raimee Beck and Anna Gault. Beck led all scorers with 23 points and added eight rebounds and five assists. Her seven three-point baskets was one off the school and conference game records. Gault notched her first-career double-double with career-high's of 10 points and 10 assists and hit a pair of three-point baskets.
The first-half was a close affair as Air Force hung around TCU, trailing 32-30 at the break. The Horned Frogs jumped out to an early 13-7 lead before the Falcons rallied back with a 10-2 run to jump ahead 17-15 at the 9:25 mark. TCU came right back with a 9-0 run late in the first-half to jump ahead 31-22 with two minutes in the half. The Falcons responded with an 8-1 run to close out the half, highlighted by five consecutive points from Gault on a jumper and then buzzer-beating three-point basket from just past half-court.
Tied 37-37 with 17:14 to go in the second half, TCU took control of the game with a 7-0 run as Air Force went on a six-minute scoreless drought. The Frogs slowly extended their lead with timely three's by Carter and by getting to the free throw line. TCU made all seven of its free throws in the second half and was 10-of-12 for the game.
Air Force got solid production off the bench from Kathleen Schjodt, who scored nine point and grabbed five rebounds. The Falcons shot 38.9 percent from the field and tied a season-high with 19 assists.
In support of Breast Cancer Awareness, the Falcon coaching staff wore pink polos and shoes and the players wore pink socks and shoe laces.
Air Force returns to action Saturday, Feb. 21, at Colorado State. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. MST, moved back from the original 4 p.m. start time, and the game will be televised live on the Mountain West Sports Network.
