Bowling Green State University Athletics
2006-07 Sweet Sixteen Team: BGSU Rolls Along During Non-Conference Play
January 19, 2018 | Women's Basketball
BGSU will recognize the '06-07 team as part of the program's Alumnae Day on Feb. 3
Just over a decade ago, the Bowling Green State University women's basketball program had a season for the ages.  The 2006-07 Falcons became the first Mid-American Conference team ever to advance to the Round of 16 in the NCAA Championships, and BGSU also became the first-ever MAC basketball team -- men or women -- to win more than 30 games.
The Falcons went 31-4 overall and 15-1 in MAC regular-season play. BG won the league's regular-season crown, then rolled through the conference tournament, downing Toledo, Eastern Michigan and Ball State on the way to the title.
THE NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
BGSU, after winning the MAC regular-season and tournament titles in both 2005 and '06, was the overwhelming favorite to win the MAC again in 2007. The Falcons received 40 of the 41 votes to win the East Division in the MAC News Media Association's Preseason Poll, along with 35 of the 40 votes to capture the conference tournament crown. Seniors Liz Honegger and Ali Mann and junior Kate Achter all were named to the Preseason All-MAC Team.
The Falcons opened the regular-season with a 31-point win at Detroit, then gave national power Notre Dame a battle in South Bend. Achter scored 20 points vs. the Fighting Irish, adding nine assists and five steals. Senior Megan Thorburn went 5-for-6 from long range en route to 17 points, while Honegger forced the OT session with a three-pointer at the buzzer. UND picked up the victory after the extra five-minute session, but the Falcons had served notice that this team could play with any program in the country.
BGSUÂ 68, Detroit 37
Notre Dame 85, BGSUÂ 81 (OT)
The Orange and Brown headed to Orlando and steamrolled the competition at the UCF Golden Knights Tournament. BGSUÂ downed Albany and Fairleigh Dickinson by a combined 67 points. The latter game saw the Falcons shoot an amazing 75 percent from the field in the first half. Following the championship-game win, no all-tournament team was named, and there was no trophy presentation (and no trophy) for the tourney champions.
BGSUÂ 76, Albany 40
BGSUÂ 87, Fairleigh Dickinson 56
The Falcons returned to Ohio to begin the home portion of the schedule with what looked to be a tough three-game stretch. As it turned out, it was anything but. BGSUÂ toppled Temple, obliterated Oakland and absolutely dismantled Indiana, with only the Temple game closer than 20 points at the final horn. BG shot over 60% from the field (for the second-straight game) in the win over the Owls, and on Nov. 28, BGSUÂ broke into the national rankings as the Falcons were 24th in the USA Today ESPN poll released that afternoon.
The next night, senior Carin Horne surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her career, and the Falcons rolled up 52 first-half points en route to a 31-point win over the Golden Grizzlies at venerable Anderson Arena.
BGSU was tied for 22nd in the country by the time Indiana came to town, and the roof nearly came off of  "The House That Roars" as the Falcons ended the first half on a 26-7 run and downed the Hoosiers by 35 points, 82-47. That marked BGSU's 21st consecutive win at Anderson Arena. Honegger, an Indiana native, scored BG's final nine first-half points to send the Falcons to the locker room with a 43-19 lead, and BG was well on the way to a 6-1 record.
BGSUÂ 86, Temple 67
No. 24 BGSUÂ 89, Oakland 58
No. 22 BGSUÂ 82, Indiana 47
BGSU headed to Western New York, and head coach Curt Miller picked up his 100th career win as the Falcons downed St. Bonaventure, 71-46. The team, now ranked 21st in all the land in the USA Today ESPN poll, broke into the Associated Press rankings on Dec. 18, and the team headed to Cancun for a pair of tough contests.
At the Moon Palace Resort, the Falcons forced Duke into 23 turnovers, and gave the fourth-ranked team in the country a scare. A pair of three-pointers by Mann gave the Falcons a 31-25 lead and forced the Blue Devils into a second-half timeout, but Duke responded with a run to take the lead for good. BG got within four points on a Lindsey Goldsberry three-pointer with under six minutes to go, but the Blue Devils held on for a nine-point win.
The next night, senior Amber Flynn scored 16 points, the most of her career to that point, and Honegger set the school's career record for three-point field goals as the Falcons topped a tough Texas-Arlington team. BG never trailed, but the lead was in single digits for the entire game until a key possession near the end. Offensive rebounds by Mann and Horne resulted in a dagger three by Mann, giving the Falcons an 11-point advantage in the final minute.
No. 22 BGSUÂ 71, St. Bonaventure 46
No. 4 Duke 55, No. 21/25 BGSU 46
No. 21/25 BGSUÂ 59, UT-Arlington 48
Following a break for the holidays, the Falcons returned to (venerable) Anderson Arena to face Delaware. The Fightin' Blue Hens entered the game with a 9-2 record, and made a big run that bridged the halftime break. But, the Falcons answered that run to improve to 9-2 themselves. Honegger had 24 points as BG shot 65% from the floor in the second half and 56.8% for the game. UD had taken a 34-27 lead after a 14-0 run, but the Falcons seized control with a 15-0 run later in the second period. BG made nine consecutive shots, including six three-pointers, during a six-minute span.
Two days later, the Falcons closed the non-league schedule with a win over Robert Morris on New Year's Eve. Five players scored in double digits as the Falcons ended the calendar year with a 10-2 record.
No. 21/25 BGSUÂ 70, Delaware 59
No. 21/25 BGSUÂ 92, Robert Morris 81
The first two days of 2007 would see the Falcons move up in the polls, as BG was ranked 24th in the AP poll on New Year's Day, then moved up to 19th in the USA Today ESPN poll. That No. 19 ranking was tied for the highest-ever ranking by a MAC institution at the time. The USA Today ESPN poll came out while the Falcons were on the bus to Akron, the day before the conference opener vs. the Zips. Also during that bus trip, the news broke that Honegger was named the MAC Player of the Week, the Falcons' fourth such honor during the non-league portion of the schedule.
It all added up to the Falcons having an even bigger bull's-eye on their back as conference play began. How would BG fare against the rest of the MAC? (Spoiler alert: The Falcons would fare pretty well.)
THE 2006-07 FALCONS
SENIORS (6)
Amber Flynn
Julie Gompers
Liz Honegger
Carin Horne
Ali Mann
Megan Thorburn
JUNIORS (2)
Kate Achter
Whitney Taylor
SOPHOMORES (1)
Lindsey Goldsberry
FRESHMEN (3)
Tara Breske
Laura Bugher
Sarah Clapper
STAFF
Curt Miller, Head Coach
Jennifer Roos, Associate Head Coach
Brandi Poole, Assistant Coach
Kevin Eckert, Assistant Coach
Heather Grine, Trainer
Amanda Gibson, Student Manager
Randall Clark, Student Manager
ALUMNAE DAY / 2006-07 TEAM RECOGNITION
The current edition of the Falcons will face Miami on Sat., Feb. 3, with tipoff set for 1:00 p.m. The Sweet Sixteen team will be recognized as part of BGSU Women's Basketball Alumnae Day festivities on that date. Ticket information follows.
General Ticketing Information
>> Will Call: Located at the Main Ticket Office (Entrance by the Falcon Statue)
>> Parking: Gameday Parking $5
>> Buy Tickets Today: CLICK HERE
(Note: Ticket prices increase by $2 on gameday)
More information on Alumnae Day and the 'Sweet Sixteen' Team recognition will be available right here at BGSUFalcons.com as the event date draws closer.
SWEET SIXTEEN TEAM RECOGNITION STORIES
Jan. 4 - Sweet Sixteen Team Recognition set for Feb. 3
Jan. 11 - Falcons Shatter School, MAC Win Records
Â