Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Prepare To Face Toledo
January 20, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 20, 2004
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University women's basketball team is preparing for a Wednesday (Jan. 21) road game against arch-rival Toledo. The contest begins at 7:00 p.m. at UT's Savage Hall. On Monday afternoon, Falcon head coach Curt Miller and senior co-captain Stefanie Wenzel sat down with members of the media to discuss the upcoming game and the state of the Falcons...
BGSU SENIOR STEFANIE WENZEL
"I think we've been doing a good job of focusing on one game, even one day, at a time. It's so important to have good practices and work on being more consistent."
"Obviously, we're excited about playing Toledo. But, every game is exciting, because we are playing well right now, and we want to try to win every game."
(On her freshmen teammates)
"They've grown up so fast. They are unbelievable; they have been such an important part of our play."
"Obviously, Toledo is the big rival, and we always want to beat Toledo. But, I think we're just looking at it as another game, and another opportunity to improve. It is fun to play in front of a big crowd, even though they might not be rooting for our team. Winning at Toledo would really make a statement in the conference, and that's what we're going to try to do. We will play hard, like we do every game."
(What have you told the freshmen about Toledo?)
"I think they know that (UT) is the big rivalry. We have told them about some of the games where they've killed us in the past. We have tried to fill them in, and they know Toledo is a tough team. But, the freshmen don't really know a lot about any team. They don't get intimidated, because they don't know to be intimidated. It is good; it helps with the overall confidence of the team."
(What will you tell them?)
"We want the intensity, focus and excitement, because it is the Toledo game. But yet, we want that for every game. It would just be huge if we could beat them on the road, and I want to make sure (the freshmen) realize that. I think they do realize. We try to come out fired up for every game, because we can't take anyone lightly."
BGSU COACH CURT MILLER
(Do your freshmen have any idea what they're getting into?)
"No, and I think that's a good thing. They are excited to be playing Toledo. They are starting to hear people talk about Toledo. We got together last (Sunday) night, and gave them the scouting report, so it's now on their minds. But, they don't know what Savage Hall is all about; they don't have a feel for how tough of a place that is to play. Our senior co-captains have not won there, and this will be a barometer for us. It is a good test to see how far we have come, and how much more we still have to do as a program."
(Is it a big game b/c it's Toledo, or because it is two teams battling for the upper spots in the West Division?)
"At the end of the season, the teams that are able to steal road wins are the teams that will be up there in the MAC standings. We are all playing for (MAC Tournament) seeding, and we are all trying to get better every day. Coach (Mark) Ehlen is such a good coach, and he will exploit some of our weaknesses, and that's ultimately what we will continue to try to improve upon."
(How do you match up with Toledo?)
"Well, I think the teams match up well. They start a senior backcourt, and we start two seniors in the backcourt. We're younger in the frontcourt, but I feel like we match up well. We both have (outside) shooters, and we both have the ability to throw the ball inside and score."
(Is this the biggest rivalry for your program?)
"Oh, absolutely. This is a big rivalry game. It goes beyond just the game. A lot of the players on both teams were recruited by both programs. We recruit the same regions, and we recruit the same types of kids. When you walk into (a recruit's) home, they want to know who is winning, and who is playing well. We are recruiting high-school juniors who are looking at Toledo as well, and so the outcomes of these games have long-lasting impact upon your program."
(You got a road win against Northern Illinois, and you came from behind and gutted out a win over Central Michigan. What have those wins done for your team?)
"It has been a good stretch for us. We've won six out of seven games, and we won five of those games using a lot of zone defense. Against Central, they exploited our zone, and we had to fight and claw back using our man-to-man. So, we've been able to use several defenses to win. One good thing is that we're so young, (the players) don't know you are not supposed to win on the road. They don't know how loud Savage Hall is; they don't realize (UT) has led the MAC in attendance in the last 13 years. They don't know these things. I do, and I won't share everything with them. But, any win is a big win for a young team. These freshmen hate to lose, and we have gotten good senior leadership. This team is becoming a better team because we are finding ways to win even when we don't play perfect basketball."
(What are some of Toledo's strengths?)
I think they are the best-coached team in the league. Ehlen is the best coach in the league, and he will have his kids prepared. They don't lose at home very often; they take care of their home court. Those are some of the intangibles they bring to the table. They also have good seniors, a real experienced backcourt that doesn't make a lot of mistakes, and they have good motion on offense. They pose a problem for other people, because when you start to chase their good perimeter players around, it leaves you one-on-one inside with (Karin) Hoogendam, who has blossomed into one of the best post players in the league."
(What will you tell your team?)
"We will tell them to be patient. We know we will have to fight through some droughts. Toledo is very talented offensively, but they've missed some shots this year. And, we've missed some shots. We've got to play through those 2-for-19 streaks, like we did against Central. We've got to close the gap or expand the lead if Toledo has a dry spell. I don't think the game will be won or lost in the first few minutes. I'll tell the kids to stay confident, stay patient, and take advantage of opportunities when they can."
