Jan. 6, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Air Force at San Diego State
Wednesday, Jan. 7 - 6:05 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: San Diego, Calif.
Arena: Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl (12,414)
Series: San Diego State leads, 17-5
Live Stats: www.goaztecs.com
Internet Radio: www.goaztecs.com
TV: CBS College Sports Network (CBS C)
Channel 613 on DirecTV, 152 on DISH and 170 on Comcast cable.
TV Talent: Jason Knapp (play-by-play) and
Tammy Blackburn (color).
Falcons Open MWC Play At San Diego State
The Air Force women's basketball team opens Mountain West Conference play at San Diego State on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Tip-off is at 6 p.m. and the game will be televised live on the CBS College Sports Network (CBS C). Live stats and internet radio will be available for the game as well.
Scouting Air Force
Air Force is 4-9 on the season after defeating Navy 65-62 on Saturday. Sophomore guard Raimee Beck leads the team offensively, scoring 14.6 points per game to go with 6.5 rebounds per game. Senior Kim Kreke is the top rebounder in the conference, averaging 10.8 boards per game.
Air Force In 2007-08
Air Force went 10-19 in 2007-09. The Falcons were 4-12 in Mountain West Conference play, finishing in seventh place. The four conference wins and seventh place finish were all-time bests in MWC play for Air Force. Senior forward Alecia Steele led Air Force in scoring and rebounding, averaging 12 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Steele was also named team MVP. Steele and senior guard Pamela Findlay earned all-MWC honors.
Scouting San Diego State
San Diego State is 9-3 on the season after defeating fourth-ranked Texas, 60-55, in its last game. The Aztecs are led offensively by sophomore center Paris Johson, who is averaging 16.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
Looking For First Win In MWC Opener
Air Force is 0-9 all-time in Mountain West Conference openers. Air Force 0-12 all-time in conference openers as a Div. I program, losing three openers as member of the Western Athletic Conference from 1996-1999. Air Force's last conference opener was back in 1995, a 70-59 win over Colorado Christian, as a member of the Colorado Athletic Conference.
Series History/Notes
- Air Force and San Diego State have met 22 times with the Astecs having won 17 of the meetings.
- The two teams first met on Jan. 11, 1997, a 70-41 Aztec win in San Diego.
- Air Force is 1-10 all-time in games played at San Diego.
AF vs. SDSU History
1-11-97 San Diego, CA^ L 41-70
2-6-97 USAFA, CO^ L 57-89
2-7-98 USAFA, CO^ L 54-78
2-26-98 San Diego, CA^ L 59-68
1-22-00 USAFA, CO* W 77-72
2-19-00 San Diego, CA* L 38-70
1-18-01 USAFA, CO* L 49-50
2-17-01 San Diego, CA* L 30-57
1-27-02 San Diego, CA* L 50-58
2-21-02 USAFA, CO* L 79-83
2-1-03 USAFA, CO* L 55-73
2-27-03 San Diego, CA* L 57-69
1-31-04 USAFA, CO* L 46-51
2-26-04 San Diego, CA* L 50-52
1-26-05 USAFA, CO* W 48-44
2-26-05 San Diego, CA* L 61-77
1-7-06 San Diego, CA* W(OT) 63-59
2-8-06 USAFA, CO* W 74-45
1-14-07 San Diego, CA* L 51-60
2-15-07 USAFA, CO* W 60-52
2-6-08 USAFA, CO* L 45-62
3-8-08 San Diego, CA* L 34-64
^WAC game
*MWC game
Last Meeting
The Air Force women's basketball team lost to San Diego State, 64-34, in Mountain West Conference women's basketball action March 9, 2008, at Cox Arena.
Air Force struggled with San Diego State's pressure defense shooting just 30 percent from the field. The Falcons were held to season low for points in a half and second-lowest total of the year.
The Aztecs raced out to an 29-9 halftime lead and never looked back. With Air Force senior Alecia Steele missing her second-straight game with a shoulder injury, San Diego State's Paris Johnson wreaked havoc inside the paint, scoring 23 points and seven rebounds. Allison Duffy added 14 points.
Pamela Findlay led Air Force in scoring for the second straight game with 11 points. Chasmine Jones added a career-high 10 points in 17 minutes off the bench.
Air Force-SDSU Connections
- Freshman guard Jamela Satterfield is the lone Falcon from California. Satterfield is a Sacramento native and attended Sheldon High School.
- San Diego State has four players from Sacramento on its roster.
Falcons Near Top In Several MWC Categories
Air Force ranks amongst the top Mountain West Conference teams in free throw shooting, team defense and team defensive field goal percentage. The Falcons are allowing the opposition to score 61.5 points per game and shoot 37.9 percent from the field, both ranking fourth. The team is making 81.8 percent of their free throw attempts, which also ranks second in the conference.
The Falcons allowed 64.5 points per game, shot 71.4 percent from the line and allowed the opposition to shoot .415 from the field in 2007-08.
MWC Team Defense
1. New Mexico 58.6
2. BYU 59.1
3. Utah 59.6
4. Air Force 61.5
MWC Team Defense FG %
1. New Mexico .343
3. Utah .358
2. Wyoming .363
4. Air Force .379
MWC Team Free Throw Percentage
1. Utah 82.6
2. Air Force 81.8
3. TCU 77.5
4. New Mexico 77.0
Defense on Record Pace
Air Force is allowing 61.5 points per game. That total is nearly three points per game fewer than the all-time Div. I era school record of 64.1 ppg by the 2004-05 team. The Falcons have held six of their 13 opponents to 57 or fewer points.
Kreke MWC's Top Rebounder
Kim Kreke leads the Mountain West Conference with 10.9 rebounds per game. The next closest player is UNLV's Shamela Hampton with 9.3 rebounds per game. Kreke averaged 4.6 rebounds per game as a junior. She has 10+ rebounds in eight games this year.
MWC Individual Rebounding
1. Kim Kreke, Air Force 10.8
2. Shamela Hampton, UNLV 9.3
3. Paris Johnson, SDSU 8.4
4. Halie Sawyer, Utah 8.2
Beck A Scoring Machine
Air Force guard Raimee Beck has become one of the Mountain West Conference's top scorers. The sophomore leads the team and is eighth in the MWC, averaging 14.6 points per game. Beck was named MWC Player of the Week on Dec. 8 after averaging 25.3 points and 7.3 rebounds during that week.
Here are some of Beck's highlights so far this year:
- Scored a career-high 30 points against North Carolina Central, becoming the first Falcon to reach 30 points in a game since 2002.
- Was 8-for-8 from three-point range vs. NCCU, tying a school record for three's in a game and shattering the previous school mark of 4-for-4 for perfect three's in a game. The 8-for-8 on three' was also a new MWC record and one shy of tying the NCAA record.
- At one point, made 12-consecutive three-point baskets over the three games, two off the NCAA record of 14.
- Scored 21 points vs. Barry and 25 vs. Miami (Ohio).
- Named to Air Force Classic All-Tournament Team.
Beck Averages Over 20 When Reaching Double-Figures
Although Raimee Beck leads the team with a 14.6 scoring average, that total increases significantly when the sophomore guard reaches double figures in a game. In her seven games reaching double-figures in scoring, Beck has averaged 22.3 points in those games. Air Force is 4-3 when Beck reaches double-figures in scoring.
Kreke Sets Academy Div. I Rebounding Mark; Twice
Kim Kreke had pulled down 19 rebounds in a game twice this season, setting a Air Force Div. I record in the process. Kreke first recorded 19 rebounds against Milwaukee. That total eclipsed the previous mark of 16 set by Mollie Peters vs. Texas-Pan American on Nov. 23, 1997. Kreke grabbed 19 rebounds again vs. UMKC on Dec 22. The 19 rebounds ties for the fourth-most in Air Force history, the seventh-highest mark in Mountain West Conference history and the second-highest total by a senior in MWC history.
Most Rebounds In A Game By Air Force
31 Mary Jo Wier vs. New Mexico Highlands, 2/11/77
26 Mary Manning vs. Northern Colorado, 3/11/82
24 Mary Jo Wier vs. Colorado Mines, 2/1/77
19 Kim Kreke vs. UMKC, 12/22/08
19 Kim Kreke vs. Milwaukee, 11/22/08
19 Mary Manning vs. Northern Colorado, 1/29/85
17 Theresa Blad vs. Abilene Christian, 3/8/85
17 Melissa Standley vs. Mesa State, 11/17/89
16 Mollie Peters vs. Texas Pan-American, 11/23/97
Falcon Trio Amongst MWC Leaders
Air Force seniors Brooke Cultra and Kim Kreke and sophomore Raimee Beck are amongst the MWC leaders in several categories.
Three-Point Baskets Per Game
Beck 1st/2.69
Blocked Shots
Kreke 2nd/19
Scoring
Beck 8th/14.6
Cultra 10th/14.3
Kreke 22nd/9.8
Rebounding
Kreke 1st/10.8
Beck 10th/6.5
Cultra 12th/6.3
Free Throw Pct.
Cultra 3rd/90.9
Kreke 11th/81.3
Sophomore Class Emerging
Several Air Force sophomores have shown improvement since their freshmen campaigns. Guard Stevie Puentes and center Liz Dunsworth have already surpassed their point and minutes played totals as freshmen and guard Raimee Beck has improved her scoring and rebounding averages.
Beck 2007-08 2008-09
PPG 9.0 14.6
RPG 3.7 6.5
3 PT% .343 .407
Dunsworth
GP-GS 16-0 13-8
MPG 3.7 19.5
PPG 0.6 2.7
RPG 0.6 4.1
Puentes
GP-GS 6-0 13-1
MPG 4.2 18.3
PPG 1.7 4.0
APG 0.2 1.8
Schjodt A Pleasant Surprise
Kathleen Schjodt, the lone junior on the team, has also provided solid minutes this year. After seeing limited minutes as a freshman and even less time as a sophomore due to injury, the junior has started four games and has been Air Force's top reserve. Schjodt is averaging 6.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, both top numbers for the Falcon reserves.
Schjodt
GP-GS 3-0 13-4
MPG 5.0 23.7
PPG 2.3 6.2
RPG 1.0 3.7
Gault Turning Into Top Distributor
Point guard Anna Gault is quickly picking up the pace of Div. I basketball. Gault had a career-high 10 assists against North Carolina Central and has 5+ assists in four games. It was the first 10 assist game by a Falcons since 2002. Gault is currently averaging 3.5 assists per game, ranking seventh in the MWC.
Kreke Becomes Div. I Era Shot Block Leader
Senior Kim Kreke currently has 71 blocks for her career. That total is the most Air Force in the Div. I era, surpassing Ellen Jaeschke. Kreke currently ranks 4th all-time in shot blocks.
Most Blocks Career
1. 122, Mary Manning 1981-85
2. 88, Chris Clausnitzer 1988-92
3. 79, Leigh Wilbanks 1988-91
4. 71, Kim Kreke* 2005-pr.
5. 70, Carrie Carrow 1993, 95-96
6. 64, Stacy Goss 1983-86
7. 56, Ellen Jaeschke* 2004-05
8. 52, Brooke Cultra* 2005-pr.
8. 52, Pamela Findlay* 2004-08
10. 41, Mollie Peters* 1996-00
*Div. I era
Injury Sidelines Loveless For Remainder Of Season
Senior power forward Dana Loveless will miss the remainder of the 2008-09 season after suffering a sprained ankle and torn left ACL in the season-opener against Northern Colorado. Both injuries happened on the same play just eight minutes into the game.
Falcons Picked To Finish Ninth In MWC
In the preseason conference poll released in October, Air Force was chosen by the coaches and select media to finish ninth in the Mountain West.
1. Utah (16) 206
2. San Diego State (6) 184
3. TCU (2) 161
4. New Mexico (2) 148
5. BYU 117
6. Wyoming 113
7. UNLV 80
8. Colorado State 44
9. Air Force 36
(First Place Votes)
Seven Regular Season Games on TV
A record seven Air Force women's basketball regular season games will be televised. The Falcons will have four games on the Mountain West Sports Network (Mtn.) and games on CBS College Sports (CBS C), Fox Rocky Mountain (Fox RM) and BYU TV. Air Force could also have games televised at the MWC Championships.
Air Force WBB TV Schedule
Nov. 29 Army Mtn.
Dec. 10 at Denver Fox RM
Jan. 3 Navy Mtn.
Jan. 7 at San Diego St. CBS C
Jan. 20 Colorado St. Mtn.
Feb. 4 at BYU BYU TV
Feb. 21 at Colorado St. Mtn.
M 10-14 MWC Tourney Mtn./CBS C/VERSUS
Team Captains
Seniors Brooke Cultra and Kim Kreke have been named team co-captains for the 2008-09 season. Cultra is a three-year letterwinner and returning starter at shooting guard. Kreke is also a three-year letterwinner and returning starter at center.
Up Next
Air Force hosts New Mexico on Saturday, Feb. 10. Tip off is at 2 p.m. Mtn.
