Air Force Academy

The Air Force women's basketball team continues with a single MWC game this week, hosting UNLV on Wednesday, Jan. 25, in a 7:00 p.m. contest.


Coaches...
• Air Force is coached by Ardie McInelly (Boise State, 1982), who is in her fifth year at the helm of the Falcons' program. She has compiled an overall record of 31-97 while at the Academy and holds a career record of 108-159 (10th year).
• UNLV is coached by Regina Miller (Old Dominion, 1984), in her eighth year as head coach of the Lady Rebels. She has compiled an overall record of 146-84 at the helm of the UNLV program and holds a 206-181 record for her career (14th year).


Series Records...
• UNLV holds the advantage in its all-time series with Air Force, as the Lady Rebels are 16-2 all-time against the Falcons. UNLV won both contests in 2005, a 76-51 victory in Las Vegas, followed by a 70-63 win at the Academy.


Scouting the Falcons...
Air Force dropped another pair of games last week, falling to Utah, 90-45 on the road, before losing a close thriller to 18th-ranked New Mexico, 59-55, at home. Though the Falcons have dropped to 1-5 on the conference season, they still hold a school-best season win total of 10 wins and seven losses.

Leading Air Force in scoring this season is sophomore Alecia Steele, averaging 10.3 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game, while Pamela Findlay adds 10.2 points per game.


Scouting the Lady Rebels...
UNLV enters this week's contest with a n 11-5 overall ledger, including a 3-2 mark in the Mountain West Conference. The Lady Rebels split their last two contests, defeating Colorado State, 67-62, at home, before falling to Utah, 59-51 on the road.

Sheena Moore leads UNLV with a 13.8 points and a team-high 62 assists on the year, while Sherry McCracklin, a reshirt senior, is also averaging in double-figured with 10.6 points per game.


How We Rate...
In the latest conference statistics released Jan. 22, Air Force found itself ranked at the top or near the top in a few categories. The Falcons continue to lead the MWC in free throw percentage (.753), while ranking second in rebounding offense (40.4 pg), offensive rebounds (16.0) and rebounding margin (+6.6).

In addition, several Falcons rank among the conference's top-10 individual leaders in various categories:


Rank Stat
FG Pct.
Pamela Findlay 8 .459

FT Pct.
Dawn Higginbotham 2 .850

3PT FG Pct.
Pamela Findlay 4 .452

Rebounds
Alecia Steele 8 6.9

Off. Rebounds
Alecia Steele 2 2.71

Blocks
Ellen Jaeschke 3 1.41


How They Rate...
In the latest MWC ratings, UNLV leads the league in a few different categories, including rebounding defense (33.3), blocked shots (4.44) and offensive rebounds (16.06).

Rank Stat
Scoring
Sheena Moore (LV) 7 13.8

FG Pct.
Kisha Lee (LV) 1 .560
Sherry McCracklin (LV) 6 .475

FT Pct.
Sheena Moore (LV) 7 .793

Rebounds
Faye Muller (LV) 7 7.1

Off. Rebounds
Sherry McCracklin (LV) T5 2.62

Def. Rebounds
Faye Muller (LV) 5 5.25

Assists
Sheena Moore (LV) 3 3.88
Sequoia Holmes (LV) 10 3.25

Steals
Sequoia Holmes (LV) T3 2.25

Blocks
Sherry McCracklin (LV) T4 1.25
Faye Mueller (LV) 6 1.19


Who Calls Them Free?
The Falcons were at a huge disadvantage at the free throw line in games against Utah and New Mexico last week, hitting just 7-of-8 free throws total, while their opponents combined to hit 40-of-56 free throws in the two games.


Threes From Different Players...
Air Force got its three-point production from some unlikely players in its loss to Utah last week, as the Falcons' three three-point baskets came from a pair of juniors who had never hit a three-pointer in a regular season contest.

Jacki Novak, who entered the game 0-5 for her career from three-point range prior to the game, was 2-for-2 from long-range against the Utes, while Dawn Higginbotham, who had missed three prior three-point field goal attempts in her career, was 1-of-1 from downtown.


Next Up...
The Falcons return to action next week, when they travel up the road to Fort Collins, Colo., on Feb. 2 to face Colorado State in a 7:00 p.m. contest. Air Force will then get the second half of the MWC slate to a start next Saturday, Feb. 4, when they host league-leading BYU, ranked 23rd nationally, at 2:00 p.m.