Bowling Green State University Athletics
Curt Miller Quotes
February 09, 2002 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 9, 2002
OXFORD, Ohio -
BGSU HEAD COACH CURT MILLER:
"I was really happy with our effort and the character of our team today. They continue to battle, and never quit on each other or the coaching staff, even through some tough times in games. Their character and effort always show through, and they continued to play hard and gave themselves a chance to win a tough game on the road today."
"We're obviously pleased with the second half. We went into halftime having been completely destroyed on the boards in the first half, and we were outscored in the paint by Miami's ability to get the ball inside. But, in the second half, we gave up zero points in the paint and only two (Miami) offensive rebounds. We did a great job on the boards in the second half, and we outscored them in the paint, 16-10."
"I guess the biggest stat of the game, on the BG side, is that we held them without a field goal for over 10 minutes. That gave us a chance to make a run at them after trailing by as many as 22. During that stretch, we got the game to within five points with three minutes to go. That's all you can ask for, to be in the game with under three minutes left, and the game was a two-possession game at that point."
"I also want to give credit to our bench for helping us start that run. We played a lot of people today -- all 12 players that dressed, including players that haven't played in a long time -- and each of them contributed during that run. We experimented with lineups, and they just battled and kept us in the game. They bought us time, and gave us some momentum to go back with our starters, who then were more fresh and energized. We really wore them down, as three of their starters played over 35 minutes."
"Megan Jerome played really well off the bench today, (Tene) Lewis gave us quality minutes, and Rachal Hamilton did a great job in her five minutes on the floor, just to name a few players. I can't be more pleased with our bench for keeping us in the game, and allowing our starters to go back and make one final run at them."
"Specifically, our guard play was very good tonight. Stefanie Wenzel continues to find ways to score. She made a couple big baskets down the stretch to give us a chance. Lindsay Austin and Kim Griech had good offensive games, as our starting backcourt players combined for 44 points."
"I was disappointed with our game plan of taking it at them inside. Our post players combined to shoot 2-for-11, and our backup post player didn't get a shot off in 16 minutes. We obviously didn't get the ball inside as much as we wanted, and when we did, we weren't very effective against their top post players."
"But, overall, we gave a very good effort. We showed once again that, with effort, we can play with about anyone in this conference. We played a great second half and wore them down. Unfortunately, we dug ourselves too big a hole in the first half and in the first few minutes of the second half. But, to our credit, we held them without a field goal for a long, long stretch, forced them into 14 second-half turnovers, and were maybe a stop or two away from an incredible comeback."
"Our defensive effort in the second half, by all 12 players, gave us a chance to win a game on the road in which we did not play particularly well at the offensive end for a large percentage of the game. But, again, this shows that Bowling Green, in spurts, can play with anyone in this conference. We just have to find a way to play a 40-minute game, stay focused and together as a team, and do the little things."
