Box Score
USAF Academy, Colo. (Dec. 4, 2009) – Chicago State women's basketball team opened a three-game road swing today with the first game of the 14 th-annual Air Force Classic at the USAF Academy, but the host Falcons had other plans as they captured a 68-48 victory over the Cougars this evening at Clune Arena. CSU saw its record drop to 3-6 on the year, while Air Force improved its record to 2-5.
The home team claimed an early 4-0 lead in the first two minutes of the game with baskets from sophomore Anna Gault and freshman Kelsey Berger. CSU then rattled off five straight points with a three-pointer from sophomore Natalie Marlowe (South Milwaukee, WI/South Milwaukee) (South Milwaukee, Wis.) and a layup by senior Laureen Pierson (Dayton, OH/Northmont) (Dayton, Ohio) to post a 5-4 lead at 17:08, but the Falcons later posted a 15-9 run through 10 minutes thanks to six points from freshman Katie Hilbig to regain the lead at 19-14 with 7:06 remaining in the stanza.
The Cougars utilized a quick 12-9 comeback scoring drive through a span of 3:56 to pull within two points at 28-26 at the 41-second mark with six points coming from senior Alyssa Waldon (Sun Prairie, WI/Sun Prairie) (Sun Prairie, Wis.) on a pair of three-pointers, but senior Kathleen Schjodt drained a pair of free throws with 23 seconds left to increase Air Force's leading margin to 30-26 heading into halftime.
CSU once again closed within two points at 30-28 in the opening minute of the second half after junior Tressa Beckel (Waseca, Minn./Wisconsin) (Waseca, Minn.) hit a layup at the 19:14 mark. The Falcons then posted an 11-8 scoring drive over two-plus minutes to hike their lead back to five at 41-36 after Berger connected on a pair of free throws at 15:47.
The home team then produced a 25-4 run over an 11-minute stretch to post its biggest lead of the game at 66-40 following a three-point play by freshman Alicia Leipprandt with 4:10 remaining in the game. The Cougars closed out the game with an 8-2 run over the final four minutes with Waldon scoring five points during the run.
Alyssa Waldon (Sun Prairie, WI/Sun Prairie) recorded 15 points, four assists and two steals to lead Chicago State in the contest, while junior Courtney Waldon (Sun Prairie, WI/Sun Prairie) (Sun Prairie, Wis.) nearly tallied a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds. Beckel added six boards, four points, two assists and two blocked shots for the Cougars.
Air Force was guided by junior Raimee Beck's double-double with 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Leipprandt led all scorers with 20 points and added five caroms, while Gault recorded game highs of seven assists and five steals.
The Cougars return to Clune Arena tomorrow afternoon as they will face off against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with the tip-off set for 3 p.m., central time.
~CSU~
