Air Force Academy

Dec. 9, 2009

Box Score
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USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Denver's two and only made free throws of the game were its most important, as Britteni Rice hit a pair of free throws with four seconds left to drop Air Force 64-62 in women's basketball action Wednesday night at Clune Arena. The loss dropped the Falcons to 2-7 on the season and lifted the Pioneers to 3-5.

Trailing by as many as nine points late in the game, Air Force mounted a furious late-game rally only to fall on the short end. A three-point basket by Kathleen Schjodt, followed by a three-point play on a layup and foul shot by Raimee Beck tied the game up at 62 with 10 seconds left in regulation.

Rice was fouled just seconds later on a drive to the basket and hit both free throws. Air Force then turned the ball over on an inbounds play and DU was able to run the clock out.

Five Pioneers reached double-figures in scoring led by Brianna Culberson's 14 points. Guard Emiko Smith had game-high's of eight assists and four steals. Laura Palmere added 12 points off the bench by way of four three-point basket's.

Beck and Schjodt tied for Air Force's team-lead with 11 points each. Beck also had five assists and a team-high six rebounds. Sophomore guard Anna Gault added seven assists to go with six points and three steals.

The Falcons also got nine points each from freshmen forwards Kelsey Berger and Dymond James. Junior Candice Chase also gave AFA a strong outside presence hitting a career-best two three-point baskets.

Air Force led 29-26 at halftime by doing a good job of holding on to the ball. The Falcons turned the ball over just four times in the opening half and tied a season-low with 12 for the game.

Denver clawed its way back into the game, primarily with the three-point ball and by shooting 62.5 percent from the field in second half. The Pioneer's hit 6-of-11 three's in the second half.

Air Force shot 46 percent from the field, its second-best shooting night of the season. All ten Falcons that got into the game scored and five different players hit three-point baskets, both team-high's.

Air Force returns to action Saturday, Dec. 19, hosting Bradley. Tipoff is 2 p.m.