Air Force Women's Basketball Announces Season Awards
4/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force women's basketball announced its award winners for the 2015-16 season Thursday evening at the postseason team banquet at the Academy. Five Falcons took home awards.
Awards were given out for top free throw shooter, assists leader, rebounding leader, Defensive MVP and the Loudermilk-Chavez Leadership Award.
The Free Throw Award went to freshman Rileymarie Clarke. The guard from Puyallup, Wash., led the team with a 72.7 percent free throw percentage (minimum one FT per game), connecting on 32 of 44 attempts. Clarke led all Air Force freshmen in scoring, averaging 4.7 points per game.
The Assists Leader Award went to sophomore Cortney Porter. The guard from Ogden, Utah, led the team with 105 assists, good for a 3.5 assists per game average. Porter ranked sixth in the Mountain West in assists and steals on the season. Her 105 assists ranks eighth most in a season in school history (Div. I era). The sophomore led Air Force in scoring as well, averaging 11.0 points per game.
The Rebounding Leader Award went to sophomore Dee Bennett. The combo guard/forward from Miami, Fla., led the team with 151 boards, good for a 5.0 per game average. Bennett led the team in rebounding in 10 games, also a team best. The sophomore averaged 5.6 points per game as well.
Defensive MVP went to freshman Venessannah Itugbu. The guard from Colorado Springs was often called upon to guard the opposition's top offensive threat. The freshman started 13 games for the Falcons, averaging 2.2 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.
The Loudermilk-Chavez Leadership Award went to senior Christina Gamble. The forward from Atlanta, Ga., was a team co-captain as a senior. Her season was unfortunately cut short when she suffered a season-ending knee injury during the team's second practice prior to the season.
Air Force also honored its two graduating seniors, Gamble and forward Taylor Parker. Parker joined the team after completing a standout four year career with the volleyball team. Parker started 21 games for the Falcons, averaging 5.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
Air Force WBB 2015-16 Team Awards
Free Throw Pct Award: Fr. G Rileymarie Clarke
Leading Assists Award: So. G Cortney Porter
Leading Rebounder Award: So. G/F Dee Bennett
Defensive MVP: Fr. G Venessannah Itugbu
Loudermilk-Chavez Leadership Award: Sr. F Christina Gamble
