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Show JTHE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE 10 Monday, February 11 f 2008 Utes fly higher than Falcons U women claim 15th straight victory in Air Force win Natalie Dicou STAFF WRITER . Another game, another landmark for the U women's basketball team. A week after making their Top-25 debut at No. 20, the Utes picked up their 100th win in the Mountain West Conference with a victory over Air Force at the Huntsman Center on Saturday. Utah, which beat the scrappy Falcons 71-52, is the first MWC team to hit the century mark in wins. "You're always trying to establish sort of what's your place in the league and really where your program's been/' said head coach Elaine Elliott, who's been with the team for each of those 100 wins. "It's a nice black and white statement that says, well, that's a standard bearer. So, you know, we feel like we've been that type of program in the league." The Utes (20-3, 9-0 MWC) extended their winning streak to 15 consecutive wins, which puts them three victories short of the all-time school record of 18. After shooting 59.3 percent from the field in the first half, the Utes went into the break with a comfortable 15-point advantage. Senior Leilani Mitchell scored 14 points in the first 20 minutes while senior Jessica Perry added another 10 on 4-of-4 shooting from close range. "(Perry) finished well," Elliott said. "She played sharp to the rim tonight. This has been her best year for that, and it's been really important to our success." Utah's shooting cooled- down in the second half, dropping to 34.5 percent. This allowed Air Force to make a stronger showing in the latter half, but they still couldn't make up any ground and ultimately returned to Colorado Springs with a 19-point defeat. "I love Air Force" Elliott said. "They really come in and compete. That was a good game. It was a good, hard game. Our kids had to play and they had to compete, and that's the way it's going to be the rest of the way." Unfortunately for the Falcons (7-14, 1-8 MWC), the result is nothing new. Their only win in conference play came over a pitiable Colorado State team". Mitchell followed up her 6-of-io shooting performance in the first half with a i-of-9 effort in the second frame. Despite having a rough shooting half, Mitchell still managed to record a double-double with 19 points and 10 assists—both game highs. Perry added another 12 points, and Morgan Warburton chipped in 11 points on 3-of-io shooting. Kalee Whipple had nine points and pulled down a game-high eight rebounds. Throughout the game, the Utes took care of the ball like it was a precious treasure and finished the game with seven turnovers. They made up for their few giveaways— and then some—with an impressive 10 steals. Seven Utes had at least one theft. The Utes have a week off before they head to warmer climes for a game against San Diego State next Saturday, where they'll try to come within two wins of the school record. "We try not to think about that, we try not to think about the end results right now," Mitchell said. "They're going to throw different things at us, and we just need to be ready every day." Leilani Mitchell tallied a double-double with 19 points and 10 assists In the Utes'win over Air n.dicou@ Force. The victory marked 100 in the Mountain West Conference for the U's women's basketball chronicle.utah.edu team. TV isn't for everyone—I learned the hard way I have no delusions that I'll someday become the next big ESPN analyst. I'm not the next Bob Costas. I'm not even the next Alema Harrington. I simply want to be a humble newspaper reporter. Yet, somehow I ended up on a TV show Friday, staring into the camera like a deer caught in headlights. When it comes to sports media, there is a clearly defined pecking order: first TV, then radio and finally newspapers. With that in mind, you'd think I would've been thrilled a month ago when I was asked to be a guest on a TV show called "On Campus Gam." Let me guess: you've never heard of it. Well, neither had I. "On Campus Cam" is the mtn.'s version of ESPN's "Around the Horn." It's hosted by Marius Peyton and gives student journalists from MWC schools the chance to "sound off." The show's producer wanted me to discuss a Great Debate column I'd written for The Daily Utah Chronicle. The debate was: if BYU isn't playing Utah, should you root for them? I took the stance of "Hell, no" while my colleague Jason Peterson—a notso-closeted BYU fanatic—argued that Ute fans should root for the NATALIE DICOU Cougars if it helps the conference. The show would pit me against a reporter from BYU. Journalists from Colorado State and Wyoming would also be on the show to discuss other issues. I read the e-mail from the "On Campus Cam" producer inviting me to appear on. the show, and immediately felt ill. Knowing that I'm only articulate when tapping away on a keyboard, I realized immediately that the show would probably not produce my proudest moments. In fact, I saw directly into the future, and it wasn't pretty. I saw bloopers of all kinds. There was stuttering and Freudian slips and long intervals in which I stared blankly into oblivion. But all those unpleasant visions of the future didn't stop me from quickly agreeing to be on the show. I don't think I was really operating my own body when I wrote back, saying that I was eager to be a guest on "On Campus Cam." The real me was hovering above, looking down at my typing fingers, thinking, "What on earth is she doing?" Not only would I be representing the U, I would also be the first woman ever to appear on the show. No pressure or anything. Only the reputation of an entire gender was on my shoulders. So, how did it go, you ask? I don't want to talk about it. I mean, it wasn't disastrous, necessarily, but it sure didn't open any doors for young female sports writers. Right when it ended, I knew there were things I should've said, but didn't. It was my first time on TV, and, quite frankly, I was pretty slow on my feet. We discussed whether Utah or BYU football did better in recruiting Utahns. The dude from BYU said that the Cougars signed eight Utahns while the Utes only signed five, therefore BYU won the recruiting battle. I just sat there. Didn't say anything. . What I should've said was, "Recruits are judged on quality, not After the show, I felt like George Costanza when he came up with what he perceived as the most perfect comeback ever just a few moments too late. quantity. The Utes signed the top recruit in the state, a running back named Sausan Shakerin. I think that gives Utah the edge." There was one other time when I could've outsmarted the BYU guy, but instead just sat there, like I predicted, staring into oblivion. Marius Peyton began talking about how BYU has utterly dominated the conference and how it has accumulated way more championships than anyone else. "Urn, actually, no, that's not how it is, Marius." (That's what I wish I'd said, but didn't.) I also wish I'd continued on with, "When it comes to men's regularseason championships, it's 15-8 for BYU. But if you only count football and men's basketball—the sports that the general public care about— the Utes lead the school down south, 7-6. Utah has four men's basketball championships while BYU has three. Both Utah and BYU have three football championships. The other BYU championships are in sports such as tennis and diving, in which the Cougars lead the Utes 8-1. When it comes to women's sports, Utah leads BYU 16-13 m regular season championships." Why didn't I say this? Why did I let them make it seem like BYU is an unstoppable force feared by the rest of the MWC teams? Sigh. After the show, I felt like George Costanza when he came up with what he perceived as the most perfect comeback ever just a few moments too late, and instead said nothing. George's comeback: "The jerk store called. They're running out of you." He was just a tad slow on his feet and lived in regret because of that. I feel your pain, George. I really, really do. n.dicou@ chronicle.utah.edu EXTRAORDINARY POWDER UNPRECEDENTED LODGING LETTERS@CHRONICLE.UTAH.EDU SPECIAL TARGHEE SKI PACKAGE Come see why the Teton Springs Lodge & Spa is your ultimate destination to explore this winter wonderland and indulge yourself with all of the luxuries and pampering fit for a 1<.ing of the hill'. Lodge Room - $92.00 p/person per night Baud 011 double occu/wicf. - 2 night mm. stay Enjoy the luxury of two queen beds, full washroom with jetted tub, 27' Flat Screen T V / D V D and a large balcony. 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