Dec. 18, 2007
Complete Air Force-Adams State Media Notes in PDF Format 
Adams State College Grizzlies (5-4) vs. Air Force Falcons (5-5)
Friday, Dec. 21, 2007 • 1:00 p.m. (MST)
USAF Academy, Colo. • Clune Arena (5,838)
Radio/TV:
Radio is available via internet at www.goairforcefalcons.com. Jay Ritchie calls the action for the Falcons, beginning at 12:45 p.m.
Livestats:
www.goairforcefalcons.com
Last Week:
Air Force defeated Cal State Stanislaus, 74-49, on Tuesday, Dec. 11.
Adams State defeated Metro State, 82-65, on Sunday, Dec. 16.
Up next:
Air Force travels to Annapolis, Md., to take on Navy on Saturday, Dec. 29.
Adams State takes on Bethany College at the Colorado School of Mines Tournament on Dec 28.
Streaks:
Air Force and Adams State have one-game winning streaks. The Falcons are 3-1 at home. The Grizzlies are 2-0 on the road.
Coaches:
Air Force is coached by Ardie McInelly (Boise State, 1982), who is 45-134 in her seventh season at the Academy and 122-196 in her 12th year overall as a head coach.
Adams State is coached by Kelly Kruger (Northwestern Iowa, 1981), who is 14-22 in his second year and 338-258 in his 22nd year overall as a head coach.
Last Meeting:
Air Force defeated Adams State, 61-56, at the Academy to the open the 2002-03 season on Nov. 22, 2002.
Series History vs. Adams State
- Air Force and Adams State have met 13 times with the Falcons holding a 10-3 lead in the series.
- The two teams first met in 1983, a 71-62 win by the Falcons.
- Air Force has won the last three meetings and is 7-2 at home against the Grizzlies.
Air Force vs. the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
- The Falcons are 159-35 (.820) all-time in games against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schools.
- Air Force has a winning record against every RMAC school.
Air Force vs. RMAC (159-35) First Meeting Last Meeting
Adams State 10-3 1983 2002
Chadron State 2-1 1981 1984
Colorado Christian 12-0 1991 1996
Colorado Mines 16-0 1977 1996
CSU-Pueblo 17-5 1978 1996
Fort Lewis 12-0 1978 1997
Mesa State 11-2 1981 1992
Metro State 30-11 1977 1996
New Mexico Highlands 6-0 1977 2004
Regis 26-9 1978 2005
UCCS 10-4 1991 2006
Western New Mexico 1-0 1991
Western State 16-0 1979 2006
Scouting Adams State
- Adams State enters the week with a 5-4 record after losing to Colorado Christian, 72-73, and defeating Metro State, 82-65, last weekend.
- The Grizzlies are led by senior guard Laurel Mortensen, who leads the team with 15.0 points scored to go with 4.4 rebounds per game.
- Adams State is averaging 69.8 points per game and allowing 66.3.
Scouting Air Force
- Air Force is 5-5 on the season. The Falcons defeated Cal State Stanislaus, 74-49, last Tuesday.
- Senior forward Alecia Steele leads the team with 15.8 points and a conference-leading 9.4 rebounds per game.
- Air Force is averaging 64.6 points per game and allowing 67.1.
Recapping The Cal State Stanislaus Game
The Air Force women's basketball team coasted to a 74-49 win over Cal State Stanislaus Tuesday, Dec. 11, in Clune Arena. The Falcons were led by the senior co-team captain duo of Pamela Findlay and Alecia Steele, who combined to score 32 points.
Findlay led all scorers with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting despite playing just six minutes in the first half due to foul trouble. Findlay scored 14 points in the second half and added five rebounds and five assists on the night.
Despite an off-night offensively, where she shot 5-of-18 from the field, Steele scored 14 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Steele had six offensive rebounds in a game which Air Force dominated on the glass. The Falcons out-rebounded CSUS 45-32 overall and 21-7 on the offensive boards.
Air Force took a 36-27 lead at the half despite shooting just 33.3 percent on the opening stanza. Up nine points midway through the second-half, the Falcons went on an 11-0 run to put the game out of reach with the score 56-36 with 10 minutes to play.
The Falcons held the Warriors to a season-low 49 points and forced a season-high 26 turnovers and also had a season-high 21 assists. All 15 players suited up for the Falcons got into the game.
Junior Brooke Cultra had a solid all-around game with 10 points, six rebounds and three assists. Junior Kim Kreke added six points and seven rebounds. Freshman Stevie Puentes had a season-high seven points and two steals. Freshman Liz Dunsworth scored five points and grabbed a rebound.
Freshmen Jennifer Bandi and Candice Chade made their Falcon debuts. Junior Kory Gladysz made her season debut after returning from injury and promptly drilled a three-point basket immediately upon entering the game.
Air Force Strong and Improved In Several Categories
Air Force ranks second in the Mountain West Conference in three-point field goal percentage rebounding and free throw shooting percentage. In addition, the team ranks third in shots blocked. The Falcons are pulling down 39.4 boards per game, making 36.3 percent of their three-point attempts, sinking 72.7 percent of their free throws and blocking 4.40 shots per game. All four categories, especially the three-point shooting, are significantly improved from a year ago.
Category 2006-07 2007-08 Improvement
Rebounding 36.2 39.4 +3.2
3PT Pct. 26.1 36.3 +10.2
Free throw % 68.0 72.7 +4.7%
Shot Blocks 2.62 4.40 +1.78
Falcons Play Best Game of Season vs. CSU Stanislaus
Air Force played arguably its most complete game of the season against Cal State Stanislaus last week. The Falcons defeated the Warriors 74-49. The 25 point win-margin and 49 points allowed were season-high's and low's for the Falcons. Air Force also had a season-high 21 assists and 14 steals in the game. All 15 players suited up for the Falcons got into the game.
Steele Becomes Air Force's All-Time Leading Scorer in Div. I Era
With 14 points against Cal State Stanislaus, senior Alecia Steele became Air Force's all-time leading scorer in the Div. I Era. With 1,079 career points, Steele surpassed 2007 grad., Letricia Castillo's 1,073 point mark. Steele ranks eighth all-time and Castillo ninth at the Academy.
Findlay An All-Purpose Threat For Falcons
Senior guard Pamela Findlay is off to a strong senior season, proving her ability as a well-rounded player. A do-it-all player, Findlay currently ranks amongst the conference's top 15 in seven different categories:
Category # Rank
Scoring 12.9 T-13
3Pt Pct. 44.8 T-2
Blk 1.40 3
FG Pct. 47.5 10
Fth Pct. 76.9 11
Steals 1.30 T-15
3Pt Fg 1.30 T-12
Learning To Close Out Games
Air Force has played two overtime games and had a third game that came down to a final shot. In all three games, the Falcons led by as many as eight points in the second half only to see teams rally late in the game. The Falcons have gone into overtime, twice, on buzzer-beating three's by the opposition to end regulation. The Falcons lost in overtime at St. Francis and recovered to beat Hampton in the extra period. Against Nothern Colorado, the Falcons survived a missed three-point attempt at the buzzer for the three-point win.
Steele Eclipses 1,000 Point Barrier Against Hampton
With a season-high 21 points against Hampton, senior forward Alecia Steele surpassed the 1,000 career point barrier, becoming the 11th player in Air Force history to reach the 1,000 mark. Steele is just the second player, joining `07 grad Letricia Castillo, to accomplish the feat since the Falcons moved up to Div. I play.
Falcons Perfect From Line Against Wisconsin
Air Force was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line Sunday at Wisconsin. It was the first time in 50 games that the Falcons had been perfect from the line as a team. Air Force went 4-for-4 from the line on Jan. 18, 2006 against Utah.
Findlay and Steele Named Team Captains for 2007-08
The captains for the 2006-07 basketball season are seniors Pamela Findlay and Alecia Steele. Both are first-year captains.
Falcons Picked Ninth
In the preseason conference poll released Oct. 17, Air Force was chosen by the coaches and select media to finish ninth in the Mountain West.
Wyoming was tabbed as the preseason favorite for the first time in MWC history after winning the WNIT Championship and finishing tied for second place in last year's regular-season standings. Wyoming received 24-of-30 first-place votes and 203 total points. TCU had two first-place votes and finished second with 188 points, followed by BYU with one first-place vote and 182 points. New Mexico placed fourth, followed by Utah, UNLV, San Diego State, Colorado State and Air Force.
Last year's MWC Co-Player of the Year, TCU senior guard Adrianne Ross, earned Top Returning Player honors, while Leilani Mitchell of Utah was named Top Newcomer and San Diego State's Paris Johnson was tabbed Top Freshman.
Noting The Starters
Noting Alecia Steele
- Became the 11th player in Air Force history to score over 1,000 points against Hampton. Is just the second Falcons to do so in the Div. I era.
- Leads the MWC with 9.4 rebounds per game.
- Has four double-doubles on the year.
- Scored a season-high 22 points in career-high 40 minutes against Nothern Colorado.
- Named to Air Force Classic All-Tournament Team.
Noting Pamela Findlay
- Led team with 18 points and five assists against Cal State Stanislaus.
- Had a career-high four blocked shots against Hampton.
- Led team in scoring in both games of Air Force Classic.
- Named to Air Force Classic All-Tournament Team.
Noting Kim Kreke
- Has started all ten games at center.
- Tied a career-high with 10 points against Northern Colorado.
- Ranks second on team and sixth in conference with 1.00 blocks per game.
Noting Brooke Cultra
- Pulled down a season-high 11 rebounds against Hampton.
- Has started all 10 games at guard.
- Leads team with 29 assists.
- Third on team and 13th in MWC with 6.2 rebounds per game.
Noting Raimee Beck
- Fourth in the MWC with 2.00 three's per game.
- Has led team in scoring three times.
- Has logged 40-or-more minutes in a game three times and 38-or-more five times this season.
Up Next
Air Force travels to Annapolis, Md., to take on service academy rival Navy on Sat., Dec. 29.
