Air Force Academy

Dec. 6, 2008

Box Score

UTPA-NCCU Box Score in PDF Format

USAF Academy, Colo. - A late 15-0 run pushed Miami (Ohio) past Air Force women's basketball, 66-56, as the RedHawks claimed the 2008 Air Force Classic Saturday afternoon in Clune Arena. The Falcons dropped to 3-5 on the season with the loss, despite a 25-point effort from sophomore guard Raimee Beck.

Miami was led by seniors Jaclyn Leininger and Jenna Schone. Leininger led the team with 15 points and seven rebounds and was named to the all-tournament team. Schone scored 12 points and dished out six assists and was named tournament MVP.

Air Force was led by Beck's 25-point performance. The sophomore capped off a spectacular tournament effort with seven rebounds and five assists. Beck was 9-of-12 from the floor and 5-of-7 from three-point range.

In the tournament Beck scored 56 points, making 18-of-23 shots from the floor and an amazing 13-of-15 three-pointers. Counting back to the Barry game on Monday, Beck made 12 consecutive three-point baskets at one-point during her streak. Her eight-straight three's against North Carolina Central Friday is an Air Force record. She also hit her first three, three-pointers vs. Miami.

Senior Brooke Cultra joined Beck as all-tournament selections for Air Force. Cultra scored nine points to go with eight rebounds and four assists. Sophomore Stevie Puentes also had a strong game for the Falcons, scoring nine points in 20 minutes in reserve.

After trailing for much of the first-half, Air Force jumped ahead with about six minutes to go in the first and went in to halftime up 25-23. The Falcons led 36-31 with 14:41 to go in the game when Miami made their 15-0 charge. By the time Air Force scored its next basket, the score was 46-38 RedHawks, with 10 minutes to go.

Air Force clawed their way back to within five points with six minutes to go, but Miami followed with a 10-0 run to put the game away.

Both teams shot evenly, with Miami making 43.1 percent of its shots and Air Force 43.8 percent, but it was the turnovers that did the Falcons in. Air Force committed 24 turnovers, that led to 32 points for the RedHawks.

In the consolation final, North Carolina Central (1-9) defeated Texas-Pan American (4-4), 62-57 in overtime. Jori Nwachukwu and Chasidy Williams both notched double-doubles to lead the Eagles. Nwachukwu scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Williams scored 18 to go with 10 boards.

Nwachukwu joined Texas-Pan American's Epiphany Smith on the all-tournament team.

Air Force returns to action Wed., Dec. 10 at Denver. The game will be televised, beginning at 6 p.m. MTN, on Fox Sports Rocky Mountain.

2008 Air Force Classic All-Tournament Team
Fr. G, Epiphany Smith, UTPA
Sr. F, Jori Nwachukwu, NCCU
Sr. G, Brooke Cultra, AF
So. G, Raimee Beck, AF
Sr. F, Jaclyn Leininger, Miami

Tourney MVP
Sr. G, Jenna Schone, Miami