Dec. 29, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Northern Colorado (6-6) vs. Air Force (2-9)
Wednesday, Dec. 30
Tipoff: 6 p.m.
Location: USAF Academy, Colo.
Arena: Clune Arena
Capacity: 5,939
Series: Air Force leads, 21-14
Last Meeting: Northern Colorado won, 73-53, on Nov. 14, 2008.
Live Stats: goAirForceFalcons.com
Radio: uncbears.com
Falcons Host Northern Colorado
The Air Force women's basketball team hosts Northern Colorado this Wednesday, Dec. 30. Live internet radio and stats will be available for the game, which tips off at 6 p.m. in Clune Arena.
2009-10 Falcons
Air Force returns six letterwinners and three starters from last years team. Junior guard Raimee Beck is the Falcons' top returning scorer, averaging 12.9 points per game as a sophomore. Junior center Liz Dunsworth and sophomore point guard Anna Gault also started last year. Air Force welcomes nine freshmen to the team, the largest freshman class in school history.
Last Outing
Air Force dropped a 54-48 contest at Navy on Dec. 22. Freshman Kelsey Berger led the Falcons with career-high's of 17 points and seven rebounds.
Scouting Air Force
Air Force is 2-9 on the season. Junior guard Raimee Beck leads the team offensively, scoring 14.9 points per game to go with 7.7 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Anna Gault ranks third in the confernce, averaging 4.7 assists per game. Air Force is averaging 56.1 points per game and allowing 65.7.
Scouting Northern Colorado
Northern Colorado is 6-6 on the season after defeating Colorado State last week. Senior guard Whitley Cox leads the team offensively, scoring 17.2 points per game to go with 4.7 rebounds per game. The Bears are averaging 64.5 points per game and allowing 63.9.
Series History vs. Northern Colorado
Air Force is 21-14 all-time against Northern Colorado. The two teams first met on Jan. 8, 1980, a 71-64 Air Force win at the Academy.
Last Meeting
The Air Force women's basketball team opened its 2008-09 regular season with a 73-53 loss to Northern Colorado Friday night at Clune Arena. A 22-0 run by Northern Colorado in the first-half ultimately decided the game early on.
Trailing 15-9 with over 13 minutes left in the first-half, Air Force failed to score over the next 11 minutes and fell behind 37-9 before Brooke Cultra snapped the drought with a three-point basket with three minutes left to go in the half. The Bears took a 43-20 lead at the half.
Northern Colorado shot a blistering 57.9 percent from three-point range, canning 11-of-19 from long distance. The Bears shot 50.9 percent from the field. Colorado Springs native freshman Cassie Lambrecht led UNC with 13 points in just 12 minutes off the bench. Courtney Stoermer added 12 points and Kate Kevorken 11 for the Bears.
Air Force shot a dismal 30.5 percent from the field, including a cold 21.9 percent in the first half.
Sophomore Raimee Beck recovered from a slow first-half to lead the team with 18 points, 15 coming in the second-half. Senior Kim Kreke notched her first-career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.
Senior Brooke Cultra was just shy of a double-double for the Falcons, scoring nine points and pulling down nine rebounds. Junior Kathleen Schjodt added nine points and six rebounds in 29 minutes off the bench. Sophomore Stevie Puentes led Air Force with three assists in her first-career start for the Falcons at point guard.
Despite the slow start, Air Force finished off the game on a stronger note, out-scoring UNC 33-30 in the second. Air Force did well at the free-throw line, sinking 86.7 percent of its attempts.
The Falcons suffered a setback early in the first-half when starting forward Dana Loveless went down with a leg injury that ended her Air Force basketball career.
Air Force vs. Big Sky
The Falcons are 26-24 all-time against the Big Sky.
Opponent Connections
- Air Force has two players from Colorado.
Jr. G Candice Chase - Lakewood (Green Mtn. HS)
Fr. G Katie Hilbig - Castle Rock (Douglas County HS)
- Northern Colorado sophomore guard
Cassie Lambrecht lists Colorado Springs as her home town, but graduated from Golden High School in Golden.
Navy Game Recap
Air Force dropped a 54-48 women's basketball game to Navy Tuesday night at Alumni Hall. The loss dropped the Falcons to 2-9 on the season and lifted the Midshipmen to 8-5.
Despite leading by as many as 14 points in the first half, the Falcons could not maintain the lead as the Midshipmen rallied for the win. Air Force falls to 3-5 all-time in the series and 0-4 in Annapolis.
Air Force took a 21-16 lead at the half, as Navy struggled to find its offense. The Falcons held an 18-5 lead at one point, as the Midshipmen started the game by missing its first 12 three-point attempts and shooting 1-of-15 overall. Navy shot just 19.3 percent from the field, but was able to get to within five points of Air Force when the Falcons went eight minutes with out a score.
Navy overtook the Falcons six minutes into the second half. The Mids tied the game with a pair of free throws on a technical foul by the Falcon bench, and then immediately hit a three point basket to go ahead 28-25.
Navy slowly extended its lead to as many as eight before Air Force clawed its way back to within a point with four minutes left. The Mids were able to trade scores with the Falcons late in the game to close out with the six point win.
Junior guard Angela Myers led Navy with 13 points. Jasmine Pitts added 10 points.
Freshman forward Kelsey Berger had a breakout game, leading the Falcons with a career-high 17 points. Junior guard Raimee Beck added 15 points. Both Beck and Berger tied for the team-lead with seven rebounds. Freshman forward Dymond James added eight points and six rebounds, playing a career-high 26 minutes.
Freshman guard Austyn Wilson made her debut for the Falcons, grabbing a rebound in three minutes of action. Freshman guard Desiree Wilson also played a career-best three minutes.
Beck Leading The Way For Falcons
Junior guard Raimee Beck is off to a strong start so far in 2009-10. Beck had led Air Force in scoring all but twice and had led the team in rebounding nine times. She amongst the MWC top 10 in several categories.
Gault Amongst MWC Leaders In Assists, Steals
Sophomore point guard Anna Gault ranks amongst the MWC top five in assists and steals. Gault is third in assists, averaging 4.7 per game. She is sixth in steals, averaging 2.0 per game. Gault is already 10th all-time (Div. I era) in assists at Air Force.
Her current 4.7 apg puts her on pace for 141 assists in 30 games, which would shatter the Div. I record of 119 set by Latoya Howell in 2002-03.
Freshmen Make Immediate Impact
Four Falcon freshmen are already already making immediate impacts for the Falcons. Four of Air Force's top six scorers are freshmen. Rookies Alicia Leipprandt, Kelsey Berger, Katie Hilbig and Dymond James, rank second-through-sixth in scoring for the Falcons.
Same Starting Five In Every Game
Air Force has started the same five players in every game so far in 2009. Senior Kathleen Schjodt, juniors Raimee Beck and Liz Dunsworth, sophomore Anna Gault and freshman Kelsey Berger have started every game for the Falcons.
Berger Developing Into Scorer
Freshman forward Kelsey Berger has elevated her production lately for the Falcons. Over her last four games, Berger is averaging 11.5 points, while shooting .500 from the field and three-point range. In her last game vs. Navy, Berger led the team with career-high's of 17 points, seven rebounds, three three-point baskets and 34 minutes played. Berger is third on the team in scoring (7.2), rebounding (3.8) and minutes played (25.8).
Team Captains
Senior Kathleen Schjodt and junior Raimee Beck have been named team co-captains for the 2009-10 season. Schjodt is a three-year letterwinner at forward. Beck is a two-year letterwinner and returning starter at guard.
Six Letterwinners and Three Starters Return
Six letterwinners and three starters return for the Falcons.
Juniors Raimee Beck and Liz Dunsworth and sophomore Anna Gault are Air Forces returning starters.
Senior Kathleen Schjodt, junior Candice Chase and sophomore Jamela Satterfield round out the other returners. In addition, sophomore Kira Gonzalez, who did not play in any game as a freshman, also returns.
Falcons Welcome Nine Newcomers
Air Force welcomes nine freshmen in 2009-10, its largest rookie class in school history.
F Kelsey Berger (Mentor, Ohio)
G Bethany Gross (Alexandria, S.D.)
F Katie Hilbig (Castle Rock, Colo.)
F Dymond James (Brambleton, Va.)
G Alicia Leipprandt (Ubly, Mich.)
G Megan Muñiz (Rio Rancho, N.M.)
G Danielle Sorrera (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)
G Austyn Wilson (Dallas, Texas)
G Desiree Wilson (Morrow, Ga.)
Up Next
Air Force hosts Western State on Sat., Jan. 2, in its non-conference finale.
