Air Force Opens 2010 Hosting Western State
1/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 1, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Western State (4-7) vs. Air Force (2-10)
Saturday, Jan. 2
Tipoff: 2 p.m.
Location: USAF Academy, Colo.
Arena: Clune Arena
Capacity: 5,939
Series: Air Force leads, 16-0
Last Meeting: Air Force won, 76-43, on Dec. 31, 2005.
Live Stats: goAirForceFalcons.com
Radio: wscathletics.com
Falcons Open 2010 Hosting Western State
The Air Force women's basketball team opens 2010 by hosting Western State this Saturday, Jan. 2. Live internet radio and stats will be available for the game, which tips off at 2 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. Air Force welcomes nine freshmen to the team, the largest freshman class in school history.
Last Outing
Air Force dropped a 72-53 contest to Northern Colorado on Dec. 30. Junior guard Raimee Beck scoredd 22 points and hit five three-point baskets to lead the Falcons. Sophomore guard Jamela Satterfield came off the bench to score a career-high seven points and grab a season-high five rebounds.
Scouting Air Force
Air Force is 2-10 on the season. Junior guard Raimee Beck leads the team offensively, scoring 15.5 points per game to go with 7.5 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Anna Gault ranks third in the confernce, averaging 4.6 assists per game. Air Force is averaging 55.8 points per game and allowing 66.2.
Scouting Western State
Western State is 4-7 on the season after splitting a two-game series at Alaska-Anchorage last week. Senior guard Amber Murray leads the team offensively, scoring 16.8 points per game to go with 4.6 rebounds per game. The Mountaineers are averaging 62.5 points per game and allowing 66.5.
Series History vs. Western State
- Air Force is 16-0 all-time vs. Western State.
- The teams first played on March 9, 1979, at the AIAW Region 7 Tournament, where the Falcons won, 69-49.
- The Falcons have won by double-digits in 15 of the 16 meetings.
Last Meeting
In its most lopsided victory ever as a Division I team, the Air Force women's basketball team rolled to a 76-34 win over visiting Western State Dec. 31, 2005, in Clune Arena. The 42-point victory is the largest margin of victory for the Falcons since moving to the Division I level in 1996-97. In addition, the 34 points scored by Western State are the fewest by an Air Force opponent in that same span of time. As it has all season, Air Force won the battle of the boards, outrebounding Western State 49-26. But perhaps the biggest story of the game was that of turnovers. While the Falcons forced Western State into 22 turnovers, Air Force finished the evening with just four. Sophomore Pamela Findlay and junior Letricia Castillo each scored 10 points to lead the Falcons, with Findlay also added seven rebounds and three assists. Jamie Davis and Kory Gladysz pitched in eight points each. For the Mountaineers, Kara West had 12 points, while Audra Lawson finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Opponent Connections
- Air Force assistant coach Kirk Crawford is a 1978 graduate of Western State. Crawford lettered in baseball and basketball at Western State.
- Air Force freshman guard Danielle Sorrera and Western State sophomore gurad Michelle Dobbs were are both natives of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and were teammates at Los Osos High School.
- Western State sophomore guard Krista Cona is a native of nearby Monument and attended Air Academy High School, located on the USAF Academy grounds.
Northern Colorado Game Recap
Air Force dropped a 73-52 women's basketball game to in-state rival Northern Colorado Wednesday night at Clune Arena. The loss dropped the Falcons to 2-10 on the season and lifted the Bears to 7-6.
Northern Colorado's trio of Whitley Cox, Courtney Stoermer and Lauren Oosdyke compined to scored 52 points. Cox led all scorers with 25 points, Stoermer followed with 16 points and Oosdyke 11 points.
Junior guard Raimee Beck led Air Force with 22 points and five rebounds. Beck also hit five of the team's eight three-point baskets. The eight three's tied the team's season-best.
The Bears raced out the gates by scoring the game's first seven points and never looked back. Northern Colorado led at halftime 38-22.
After taking just 18 shots in the first-half, the Falcons played with more intensity in the second, taking 32 shots in the latter half. The 16-point halftime deficit was too big a hurdle to overcome however.
Freshman forward Kelsey Berger added seven points and tied a career-high with three assists for the Falcons. Sophomore guard Jamela Satterfield had her best game of the season with a career-high seven points and a season-high five rebounds in 17 minutes in reserve.
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 10 times. She amongst the MWC top 10 in several categories.
Gault Amongst MWC Leaders In Assists
Sophomore point guard Anna Gault ranks amongst the MWC top five in assists. Gault is third in assists, averaging 4.6 per game. Gault is already 10th all-time (Div. I era) in assists at Air Force.
Her current 4.6 apg puts her on pace for 138 assists in 30 games, which would shatter the Div. I record of 119 set by Latoya Howell in 2002-03.
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, Kelsey Berger, Katie Hilbig and Dymond James, rank second-through-sixth in scoring for the Falcons.
Same Starting Five In Every Game
Air Force has started the same five players in every game so far in 2009. Senior Kathleen Schjodt, juniors Raimee Beck and Liz Dunsworth, sophomore Anna Gault and freshman Kelsey Berger have started every game for the Falcons.
Berger Developing Into Scorer
Freshman forward Kelsey Berger has elevated her production lately for the Falcons. Over her last five games, Berger is averaging 10.6 points, while shooting .487 from the field. Against Navy, Berger led the team with career-high's of 17 points, seven rebounds, three three-point baskets and 34 minutes played. Berger is second on the team in scoring (7.2) and third in rebounding (3.7) and minutes played (25.7).
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 opens Mountain West Conference play this Wednesday, Jan. 6, hosting TCU. Tipoff is 7 p.m.
