Falcons Host UNLV In Nationally Televised Game
1/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format 
UNLV vs. Air Force
Tuesday, Jan. 26
Tipoff: 6:02 p.m.
Location: USAF Academy, Colo.
Arena: Clune Arena
Capacity: 5,939
Series: UNLV leads, 23-3
Last Meeting: UNLV, 64-63, 3/4/09
TV: The Mtn.
TV Talent: Mike Evans (Play-by-Play) & Andrea Lloyd (Color)
Internet radio/stats: goAirForceFalcons.com
Local Radio: The Sports Animal AM 1300
Radio Talent: Jay Ritchie
Falcons Host UNLV In Nationally Televised Game
The Air Force women's basketball team plays host to UNLV this Tuesday, Jan. 26. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. and the game will be televised by the Mountain West Sports Network (The Mtn.). Live internet radio and stats will be available for the game.
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 67-47 contest to Utah on Jan. 23. Junior guard Raimee Beck and freshman guard Alicia Leipprandt led the Falcons with 12 points each. Freshman forward Kelsey Berger added 11 points.
Scouting Air Force
Air Force is 3-15 on the season. Junior guard Raimee Beck leads the team offensively, scoring 13.8 points per game to go with 6.7 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Anna Gault ranks third in the confernce, averaging 5.1 assists per game. Air Force is averaging 54.6 points per game and allowing 67.4.
Scouting UNLV
UNLV is 8-12 on the season after falling to TCU, 81-61, last Saturday. Junior guard Erica Helms leads the team offensively, scoring 13.3 points per game to go with 3.6 assists. The Rebels are averaging 62.5 points per game and allowing 68.7.
Series History/Notes
- Air Force and UNLV have met 26 times with the Rebels owning a 23-3 advantage in the series.
- The two teams first met in 1997 as conference foes in the Western Athletic Conference. The Falcons won the first of two meetings that year on Jan. 25, 67-62, in Clune Arena.
Last Meeting
The Air Force women's basketball team dropped a 64-63 Mountain West Conference game to UNLV March 6, 2009, at Clune Arena. Dominique Harris' layup with 10 seconds left in the game erased a 22-point lead that Air Force had with 10 minutes left in the game. Air Force shot 50 percent from the field and 54.5 percent from three point range. That was not good enough however, as UNLV clawed its way back into the game by hitting eight three-point baskets in the second-half, six by Shannon Oberg. Oberg, who's previous career-high for points was seven, torched the Falcons from long range, finishing with a team-high 20 points. Jamie Smith added 11 points and 13 rebounds and Colorado Springs native and former Sierra High School standout Shamela Hampton added 15 points and six rebounds. The loss overshadowed a stellar shooting performance by sophomore Raimee Beck. Beck scored 27 points, highlighted by six three-point baskets. Brooke Cultra, returning from a one-game absence due to a calf-strain, scored 13 points. Kim Kreke added 12 points and eight rebounds. The Falcons raced out to a 34-25 lead in the first-half. Air Force made 5-of-9 three's in the first-half, while UNLV went 0-for-7 from long distance. Air Force extended its lead to as high at 22 points midway through the second half, leading 56-34 at the 10:05 mark. UNLV then mounted a 30-7 run to close out the game and rallied for the win. Anna Gault led Air Force with four assists and Beck had a career-high five steals.
Utah Game Recap
The Air Force women's basketball team lost to Utah, 67-47, Saturday afternoon at Clune Arena.
Utah was led by Taryn Wicijowski, who scored a career-high 24 points to go with nine rebounds. Kalee Whipple followed with 13 points and Rachel Messer added 11 points. Janita Badon also had nine assists for the Utes.
Junior guard Raimee Beck and freshman guard Alicia Leipprandt led Air Force with 12 points each. Freshman forward Kelsey Berger added 11 points. Senior forward Kathleen Schjodt led the Falcons with five rebounds and freshman guard Desiree Wilson had a team-high three assists and three steals.
Utah out-rebounded Air Force 44-26 and dominated the points in the paint by outscoring the Falcons 30-6 inside.
The Utes led 31-16 at the half by making 54.2 percent of their shots, while the Falcons were just 25.9 percent. For the game, Utah shot 48.1 percent from the field and Air Force went 32.2 percent.
After another slow first-half, the Falcons nearly doubled its scoring output in the second-half, with 31 points.
Injury Bug Hits Falcons
Air Force had two players unavailable to play vs. New Mexico and Utah due to injury. Sophomore guard Anna Gault (ankle) and junior forward Candice Chase (head) did not suit up for those games. A third Falcon, junior guard Raimee Beck, is playing with a mask due to a broken nose suffered in late December. Gault's injury snapped a 45 game streak of consecutive starts.
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 12 times and rebounding 12 times. She amongst the MWC top 10 in several categories.
Scoring/9th/13.7 ppg
Rebounding/10th/6.7 rpg
Minutes per game/1st/36.7 mpg
3 PT FG per game/7th/1.9
Gault Amongst MWC Leaders In Assists
Sophomore point guard Anna Gault ranks second in the MWC in assists averaging 5.1 per game. Gault is already fifth all-time (Div. I era) in assists at Air Force.
Her current 5.1 apg puts her on pace for 143 assists in 28 games, which would shatter the Div. I record of 119 set by Latoya Howell in 2002-03.
Gault Dishes Out 12 vs. Colorado State
Sophomore point guard Anna Gault dished out a career-high 12 assists against Colorado State on Jan. 9. The 12 assists is the second highest total in Div. I history at Air Force. It was Gault's third double-digit assist game in her AFA career.
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.
Kelsey Berger - forward has started every game for the Falcons. Coming off a career-high 23 points against Colorado State. Third on team in scoring, averaging 7.5 ppg. Also second with 15 three's.
Dymond James - forward cracked starting lineup and started four consecutive games. Leads team with .440 field goal percentage, 9.0 PPG in conference and 55 trips to free throw line.
Alicia Leipprandt - Second in scoring, averaging 7.6 ppg in 14.6 mpg. Fourth on team in field goal pct (.402) and second in free throw attempts (46) and third with nine three point baskets.
Katie Hilbig - forward is averaging 4.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Third on team with 45 trips to the free throw line.
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.)
Next
Air Force travels to Wyoming on Saturday, Jan. 30. The game tips off at 2 p.m.
