Air Force Academy

Game 17: Air Force at Colorado St.
Thursday w Jan. 25 w 7:00 p.m. MST

SITE: Moby Arena, Fort Collins, Colo.

RADIO: KUBL, 1300 AM, Jay Ritchie, Broadcaster Colorado Springs (TBA)

NOTES: The Falcons will be looking for their first conference win of the season. They have not defeated the Rams in their last 10 tries.

COACHES:
Air Force is coached by Sue Darling (Arizona, 1983). This is Darling's third year as head coach of the Falcons. She compiled a 9-45 record in her first two seasons. CSU is coached by Tom Collen (Bowling Green, 1977). Collen is in his fourth season with the Rams. In his first three years, he compiled an 80-19 record.

RECORDS: The Falcons are 3-13, 0-3 MWC, while CSU is 12-4, 1-2 MWC.

SERIES: This game will mark the 21st time these teams have met, with the Rams holding a 16-5 edge. Last season, the Rams were 2-0 against the Falcons, with an average margin of victory of 20 points.

Game 18: Air Force at Wyoming
Saturday w Jan. 27 w 2 p.m. MST

SITE: Arena Auditorium (15,028), Laramie, Wyo.

RADIO: KUBL, 1300 AM, Jay Ritchie, Broadcaster Colorado Springs (1:45 p.m.)

NOTES: This is a crucial game for both teams, as the winner gets to stay out of the conference cellar. Both teams are 0-3 and looking for that first conference victory. Wyoming is without two of its starters, who were lost for the season with injuries.

RECORDS: Wyoming is 8-8 overall and 0-3 in conference.

COACHES: Air Force is coached by Sue Darling (Arizona, 1983). This is Darling's third year as head coach of the Falcons. She has compiled a 9-45 record. Wyoming is coached by Cindy Fisher (Arizona State, 1988). This is her third season with the Cowboys. In her first two seasons, she compiled a 17-36 record.

SERIES: Wyoming has owned the Falcons. In 17 games, the Cowboys hold a 16-1 series record. The Falcons' only victory came in 1985, when Air Force won 89-78. Last season, Wyoming defeated the Falcons twice by an average margin of 21 points.

Scouting the Rams
The Rams are are a tough team but have lost three of their last four games. They are 12-4, but just 1-2 in the conference. The Rams are led by Ashley Augspurger, who is averaging 12.2 points per game. Two other players are in double figures in scoring: Heather Haanen (11.5 ppg) and Elizabeth English (10.4). Angie Gorton is just off the pace with 9.9 ppg, and leads the team in steals with 28. Shannon Strecker leads the team in rebounding with 6.7 per game. The team has a high-powered offense, averaging a conference-best 74.5 points per game. They also lead the Mountain West in free throw percentage (.743).

Probable Starting Line-Ups
Air Force's Probable Starters
#   Name             Pos     Ht      Yr
11  Morgan Bennett   G       5-9     So. 
22  Ali Tomlinson    G       5-6     Jr.     
25  Rozalyn Russ     F       5-8     Jr.
32  Wendy Stillman   C       6-1     So.     
34  Samantha Clifton F       5-11    Jr.

CSU's Probable Starters
#   Name               Pos   Ht      Yr
00  Ashley Augspurger  F     6-1     SO  
02  Elizabeth English  G     5-6     SO  
14  Angie Gorton       F     6-0     JR  
44  Heather Haanen     F     5-11    SR    
50  Shannon Strecker   F     6-2     SO  

Scouting the Cowboys
The Cowboys are 8-8 but are 0-3 in Mountain West games. The team recently played a tough game against the nationally-ranked Utes, but suffered a six-point loss.

The Cowboys are a well-rounded team, with three active players in double figures in scoring. Ann McColl (11.9 ppg), Shelby Hoffman (11.3 ppg) and Jessica Gibbs (11.1 ppg), combine for 50 percent of the team's offense. Gibbs leads the team in rebounding (7.4 rpg) and steals (42). Hoffman is the team's deep threat, knocking in 35 threes in 118 attempts. The team's leading scorer Carly Stucky (12.7 ppg) suffered a season-ending knee injury in the team's sixth game.

Wyoming's Probable Starters
#       Name            Pos     Ht      Yr
13      Brenda Pickup   G       5-7     Fr. 
33      Shelby Hoffman  G/F     5-9     Sr. 
42      Christy Bacon   G/F     6-0     Jr. 
51      Ann McColl      C       6-2     So.  
54      Jessica Gibbs   F       6-1     Sr. 

Looking Ahead
Following this weekend's game, the Falcons will continue their conference schedule with home games against BYU and Utah.

Key to Success
One key to the Falcons' success in remaining conference action will be their scoring output. Against New Mexico, the team had fewer turnovers and was able to stay close throughout the first half, but scoring droughts cost the team the chance for victory. The team shot just 27 percent from the floor. The Falcons are averaging 54.1 points per game, 14 .7 points fewer than their opponents.

The team lost seniors Megan Thiedeman and Mollie Peters, who accounted for 65 percent of Air Force's scoring last season. Rozalyn Russ and Morgan Bennett are both averaging in double figures. They will need more scoring threats to win games.

Rewriting the Record Books
The Falcons' 86 points against Cal Poly was a new Air Force Division I record for most points in a game. Five players were in double figures in scoring.

The record is particular remarkable considering the Falcons were coming off a half where they totaled just six points. In its previous game against Navy, Air Force finished the game with 38 points. They had 39 at the half against Cal Poly.

Current Streak
The Falcons snapped its eight-game losing streak with a victory over Cal Poly. Their current conference losing streak is at 15 games. The team is 2-60 in conference action since moving to Division I (1-43 WAC, 1-17 MWC).

From Downtown
Against UNLV, it looked as though the Falcons would set a team record for three-point field goal attempts. The record, 33 against Colorado State (2000), looked to be in jeopardy when the Falcons opened the game with 17 consecutive three-point attempts. The first two-point attempt came with 4:28 left in the half. They team didn't get the record however, as they shot just one more three in the half, and had 13 in the second half for a total of 31.

It wasn't even a season high, as the team notched 32 attempts against Southern Utah. The team is currently averaging over 20 three-point attempts per game, 3.6 fewer than last season's average.

Roz From Downtown
Rozalyn Russ was 6-7 from the three-point line against Lafayette. Not only was the six treys a career high for Russ, her 85.7 percentage from downtown ranks fourth best in the country in a single game (minimum six made). Russ scored 23 points in the loss, her career best.

Hack Attack
The Falcons set another Division I record regarding fouls -- their fourth record this season. Against Army, the Falcons were whistled for 33 fouls, the team high since moving to Division I. The overall team record is 36 vs. Northern Colorado in 1982.

Against Fullerton, the two teams had 60 combined fouls -- a new Air Force Division I record. Over half the Falcons' points in the Fullerton victory came on free throws, as the team was 36 of 54 from the charity stripe. Fullerton committed 34 personal fouls in the game, while the Falcons were whistled 26 times.

Rozalyn Russ also set records at the line against Fullerton. Her 15 free throws made and 21 free throws attempted are new all-time records for Air Force.

Bang Those Boards
Of all the statistical categories, the one that may best indicate why the Falcons are struggling is rebounding. Heading into the SDSU game, the Falcons were getting outrebounded by 13.5 rebounds per game. In the team's 16 games, the Falcons have out-rebounded their opponent just twice -- in their 18-point victory over Cal Poly and the one-point loss to San Diego State.

Conference Rankings
Numerous Falcons are listed in the Mountain West statistical rankings. Rozi Russ is ranked 18th in the MWC in scoring (10.2 ppg) and Morgan Bennett is ranked 15th (10.4 ppg). Russ is sixth in rebounding (6.6 rpg). Shawna Neff leads the conference in three-point field goal percentage (.487). Ali Tomlinson ranks fourth in steals per game (2.31). Bennett is fourth in three-pointers made (1.88) and is 12th in steals (1.62). Air Force holds the season record for most free throws made (36) and free throws attempted (54).

One-Point Game
The Falcons' one-point game against San Diego State marks the closest Air Force game since Jan. 4, 1999, when the team notched a three-point victory over San Jose State. The last one-point game was Dec. 9, 1997, when they fell to Denver 52-53. Air Force has had one overtime game under Sue Darling, a 69-73 loss to Texas Christian in Darling's first season.

Broken Finger and All
Playing with a broken thumb, Morgan Bennett had seven steals against Navy. Not only was it a career high for Bennett, who broke the finger against Penn, but it also ties an Air Force Division I record for most steals in a game.

Nothing But Neff
Freshman Shawna Neff has come off the bench to give the Falcons quality minutes. Neff scored her first career points, knocking down a three-pointer and a 10-foot jump shot. Against Southern Utah, Neff scored a career-high 10 points, marking the first time she hit double figures in scoring. Against Navy, Neff was the team's high scorer. She is averaging 6.4 points per game, fourth best on the team.

Holding onto the Rock
Through eight games, the Falcons are averaging 19.5 turnovers per game. Last season the team averaged 20.1 turnovers per game. Their best game in controlling the ball was against Penn, when the team had just eight turnovers.

Amoy Jackson
When Samantha Clifton was held out of the starting lineup due to injury, Amoy Jackson was called upon to make her first career start against Denver. She played well, scoring eight points and grabbing three rebounds in 27 minutes. Against UNLV, Jackson led all Falcons with a career-high 14 points.

Jackson has looked impressive at times and is one of the most athletic players to come to the Academy. In practice, she demonstrates her leaping ability by touching the rim. Once she overcomes the freshman jitters, she will be a dominating force.

First Career Points
Junior Brooke Bauer scored her first career points against Fullerton, knocking down two free throws. Janea Childress scored her first points against North Texas, going 4-5 from the field, including two three-pointers. Childress was the Falcons' high scorer in the game.

Two-Sport Athletes
For the second year in a row, the Falcons have a two-sport athlete on their roster. Freshman Erica Palmer joins the squad after spending the fall playing on the Academy's soccer team. Last season, Morgan Bennett also played soccer, but chose to focus on basketball this year.

Sister, Sister
For the first time in 18 years, sisters will take the court on the same women's team. Sisters Sarah and Dorothy Albright will join each other on the court for the Falcons' varsity squad. Sarah, a junior, played on the varsity squad last season. Dorothy, a freshman, was expected to play junior varsity this season but was impressive in tryouts. The last sisters to play for the Falcons were Stacy and Martha Brodzik in 1982.

Samantha Clifton
Samantha Clifton saw her first action of the season against Army. Clifton, who had been sidelined with an ankle injury for the teams first six games, played 10 minutes in the loss. Clifton is second on the team in rebounding with 4.2 per game.

Extreme Connection Falcons' starting forward and team captain Rozalyn Russ has connections with the eXtreme Football League. Her brother Steve Russ was selected by the Los Angeles Xtreme in the inaugural XFL draft. Steve played in the NFL for a number of years before Los Angeles made him their second pick overall.