WBK: Colorado State Edges Over Falcons 
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FacebookJan. 25, 2011
By Danielle Marshall
Athletic Media Releations
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Rams did not score a field goal past the 7:59 mark in the second half, but made 13 of 14 free throws to ice a 64-58 victory over Air Force at Clune Arena Tuesday night.
The win evened the conference record of the Rams (10-9, 3-3 Mountain West), who have now won three of their last five, and sets up a key battle for separation in the middle of the MWC standings Saturday against Utah, also 3-3. It also was the team's third road win on the year.
Both CSU and the Falcons (6-13, 1-5 MWC) traded off the upper hand early in the second half with six lead changes before the Rams maintained the lead on a Sam Martin free throw with 13:07 left in the contest. Air Force came within six points toward the end, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Rams' 86.4 percent free-throw percentage.
"Our emphasis was to get the ball to Sam," said Head Coach Kristen Holt. "She did a good job posting up so we could get it to her and score."
Though a near-perfect 5-of-6 from the field, Martin struggled early from the charity stripe, missing her first two free throws. Getting sent to the line for a team-high nine times, she connected on the next seven, helping build on the Rams' lead in the second half. She recorded a team-high 17 points, her best total this season in conference play.
Chantel Kennedy scored a career-high nine points, along with seven rebounds, four assists and four steals. She played the most minutes of any Ram with 36.
"I thought Chantel was the player of the game," said Holt. "Her floor game and her decision-making was very good."
Junior Kim Mestdagh fouled out of the contest with 1:24 remaining. She finished the night one rebound short of a double-double with 12 points and nine boards.
Freshman Amber Makeever tallied seven points on the night as did senior teammate Bonnie Barbee off the bench. It was Makeever's highest point total in a Mountain West Conference game.
Air Force participated in a "Pack the House" challenge Tuesday evening, recording an attendance of 2,907. The team averaged 408 fans before Tuesday, with a high of 633 earlier in the season vs. UT Martin.
Colorado State will look to take down the Utes as it hosts Utah Saturday at Moby Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
