Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU-UT Post-Game Quotes
March 02, 2004 | Women's Basketball
March 2, 2004
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -
BGSU HEAD COACH CURT MILLER
"I'm really proud of this team. We talked in the lockerroom, before an emotional 'Senior Night' for two great senior leaders in Stefanie Wenzel and Lindsay Austin. We talked about (the fact that) we started a journey in August. Not many people in this league believed that we would be a competitive team. We formed a close-knit team, worked hard and believed in ourselves. We forged ahead through non-conference and into conference play, to gain respect and prove to ourselves that we have returned Bowling Green to the winning tradition. I'm very proud to finish the regular-season journey with a win over arch-rival Toledo."
"We feel like Anderson is a tough place for opponents to play, and we did not want to enter the conference tournament having lost three straight at home. Tonight was a big boost to our confidence; at times, I felt we were dominant tonight at home, and I hope we can carry that into our Saturday game vs. Central Michigan. But, you throw out the records, and everyone gets a fresh start (in the league tournament). As the cliche' goes, it is hard to beat a team three times in a season. I have ultimate respect for that Central Michigan program. They are a lot better than their record indicates, and that game scares me. So, we will get to work on the films, we'll give our kids a day off and then prepare for 48 hours for a very, very tough first-round game against Central."
(How important was it to have your seniors play well and get a win tonight?)
"I think it was huge. I think the biggest thing was avoiding going into the conference tournament on a three-game home losing streak. As poorly as we have played at times in my first couple years, we didn't lose three in a row at home very often. So, tonight was a big confidence boost for us, helping us feel that this is a tough place to play, and that we can win here."
"We tied for second place in the West (Division), a game out of first. We were 11-5, and we lost a quadruple-overtime game and two other games by two points. The final score of the Kent State game may be a little misleading, in that we had seven-point lead with seven minutes to go, and were tied at the last media timeout. We've won some close games, but we had some close losses, too. I couldn't be more proud of the team."
"I wasn't very happy with the way we played the last two minutes tonight. But, we stuck to the game plan. A few things stuck out in my mind after the first (Toledo) game. We got to the foul line four times, I think, in that game. Tonight, we went to the foul line 25 times, and that was a huge part of our game plan. Also, we were annihilated on the boards by Toledo in the first game. They had 18 offensive rebounds in that game, and outrebounded us by seven. Tonight, we outrebounded them by eight. We really concentrated on a couple things that hurt us (in the first game), and to our kids' credit, they really believed in the game plan and stuck to it."
(On the three freshman starters in the frontcourt, who combined for 40 points and 26 rebounds:)
"They were tremendous. We moved Megan Thorburn out of the starting lineup when she had food poisoning, and Carin Horne played so well that we couldn't take her out of the lineup. Now, Carin has had her own battles with illness over the last week, so we inserted Megan Thorburn back into the lineup, and she was the difference tonight. Megan Thorburn was terrific tonight. Those three really got after it on the boards tonight; they were terrific. Now, if we can get Carin healthy again ... I wouldn't trade those four freshmen for anyone in this league."
"In the non-conference games, at one time, Megan Thorburn was at the top of the MAC in three-point field goal percentage. I think she went something like 10 games (in MAC play) where she made only one three. She has had some ups and downs, as most freshmen do, and has battled her own lack of confidence more than anything. When she is confident out there, she plays so well. She is very, very talented, and you can see why it came down to Indiana, Michigan State and us for that kid. I'm glad she's got her confidence at this time of the year."
(On Mark Ehlen:)
"He is such a tremendous coach. I still call Mark, when I need advice. People think that is crazy, because we are supposed to be such hated rivals. But, when I broke into the profession, he was always helpful, sharing information about the business. We worked some camps together and built a coaching relationship. He is one of the people I look up to. He is so genuine, and that is why he has been so successful at Xavier and Toledo. A win like tonight's gives me great satisfaction, because when you beat a Mark Ehlen team, your team has really worked hard to it. His coaching is just tremendous. Don't count Toledo out, because they could make a big run in the tournament."
"I hope we get a big crowd for our game Saturday afternoon. We worked very hard to earn a home game, and it has been so long since BG has had a home tournament game. The crowds are coming back this year, and have been such an advantage for us. I'm thrilled that the fans are coming back, but I'm greedy -- I want more and more fans."
BGSU FRESHMAN ALI MANN
(On the Falcons' rebounding:)
"In the first game, like you said, they annihilated us on the boards. We started off a little shaky tonight, and Julie Hillis had a few offensive rebounds in the first half. But, in the second half, we took control and kept them from getting easy second-chance points."
(The first home game vs. CMU this year was close. Does that help your focus heading into Saturday?) "No matter who we play, we know it is definitely not automatic. We have complete respect for Central, and we need to come to play on Saturday."
"We needed a home win. We did not want to lose three home games in a row. This gives us some momentum heading into the tournament."
BGSU FRESHMAN MEGAN THORBURN
(Was there a time when you lost confidence?)
"There was a time. College is a whole new experience, and it is hard to get through slumps. But, you just have to try to build right back up, and it is nice to be out of it."
BGSU SENIOR STEFANIE WENZEL
"This was a big win for us, being 'Senior Night,' the Toledo game and our last home regular-season game. It was huge for us. We just wanted to come out with a win, so we have confidence going into the MAC Tournament."
(On being the fourth seed for the MAC Tournament:) "Back at the beginning of the season, no one really believed in us except our team and our coaches. It feels great to be the fourth seed. Central is kind of a scary team, but it is awesome to be fourth. It says a lot about our character."
"I was very nervous tonight. I just wanted to start off strong. I was praying that my first shot would go in, because I knew I would be fine after that."
TOLEDO HEAD COACH MARK EHLEN
"The turning point in the game was that stretch in the second half where we couldn't score and they couldn't miss. We're just having trouble scoring points. Fifty percent from the free-throw line, 23 (percent) from three-point range, 39 from the field. They played pretty hard defense, but it's been like this all year long for us. This kid beside me (Danielle Bishop) has put together three pretty good games back-to-back-to-back, but we have really struggled otherwise. But, give Bowling Green credit. I thought they played well, they played hard. They are strong inside, they rebound well and they executed well in the second half."
(On BGSU's low-post play:)
"They are strong. They outmuscled us, there's no question about that. Mann had eight (rebounds), Thorburn eight and Honegger 10. Those three almost outrebounded our team. They're very strong in there."
"You're always up for a Toledo-Bowling Green game, no question. But, their record is 18-9, and ours is 12-15. They have won a lot of close games; we've lost some games. Right now, they've got that expectation of success, and we're still searching. Well, we have kind of closed the door on our season. This season is past, so now our record isn't 12-15, it's 0-0."
TOLEDO FRESHMAN DANIELLE BISHOP
"I don't think we executed all that well. We got our shots here and there, but it could have been a lot better. There was a stretch where we couldn't get anything, and then we couldn't get a defensive stop. When we can't get a shot made, and we can't stop anyone, obviously they are going to pull into the lead."
"Even though they got a big lead, we never gave up out there. We played until the end."
