Bowling Green State University Athletics
Working Hard
April 25, 2005 | Women's Basketball
April 25, 2005
By JACK CARLE, Sentinel Sports Editor - There's no time to rest on this year's laurels.
Curt Miller, Bowling Green's women's basketball coach, wants his team to hit the weight room and look to improve their game in individual workouts in preparation for next season.
The Falcons finished 23-8 overall, posting the best record in the Mid-American Conference, winning the conference tournament and extending No. 16 Kansas State to the final minute in the first round of the NCAA tournament before losing.
Even with all five starters returning from that team, there's no guarantee of success for next season. That's why Miller is concentrating on making the current group better.
"We have a lot of talented players coming back," Miller said in a recent telephone interview. "From starters to non-starters, the off-season key is to really build up people's games.
"I've been outspoken that I want our team to get in better physical condition and I'm challenging our team to get stronger," he added. "I want to be a more athletic team."
Liz Honegger, 5-feet-11, Ali Mann, 6-1, and Carin Horne, 5-10, will be juniors next season, and they were BG's top three scorers this season. Honegger led the team averaging 14.5 points per game followed by Mann at 13.8 ppg and Horne with 11.4 ppg. Honegger and Mann combined to average 15.5 rebounds a game.
Kate Achter, who will be a 5-8 sophomore, was the MVP of the MAC tournament and averaged 11.0 points a game, leading the team with 124 assists.
Casey McDowell, who will be a 5-7 senior, is the fifth returning starter. She hit seven 3-pointers and scored 31 points in BG's MAC tournament quarterfinal win over Miami.
Miller will be looking to fill the roles of departing seniors Kelly Kapferer, who was the first post player off the bench, and Tene Lewis, a defensive ignitor who played well as three spots this season as the team's sixth man.
"They are going to be tougher to replace than people realize," Miller said. "We will look in multiple ways to replace them."
Jill Lause, who will be a 6-2 senior next season, will be given the first opportunity to fill Kapferer's role. Amber Flynn, a 6-0 junior, could also be a factor.
"Jill is a very, very talented offensive player who has great touch," Miller said. "She will be asked to be a better rebounder and better defender."
At the guard/wing spots, Megan Thorburn, who will be a 6-1 junior, and Whitney Taylor, who will be a 5-7 sophomore, are both capable and talented, Miller said. Thorburn has started 33 games in her career, but saw limited action in BG's final 12 games of the season. Taylor started the season-opener at Ohio State, but did not see double-digit minutes in any MAC game.
Regaining their confidence is a major factor for Flynn, Thorburn and Taylor, Miller said.
"Any time that you don't get the minutes you want, or your minutes have decreased during the season, you definitely have some doubt," Miller said.
Julie Gompers, a 5-6 sophomore, missed the entire season with an injury.
"She's kind of the 'X' factor of the returnees. We're waiting to see how her rehabilitation goes," Miller said.
Miller expects Mann, Honegger, Achter and McDowell to continue to be leaders on the floor while Lause could take over the leadership role in the lockerroom, replacing Kapferer, Lewis and Sakima Smith.
"Jill keeps everybody loose and she is a lot of fun to be around," Miller said. "She'll be counted on for a lot of leadership off the floor."
There are five incoming freshmen and Miller said all will be given the opportunity to earn playing time.
"I don't think we would have recruited any of them if we didn't think they would impact us," Miller said. "It will be interesting to see who impacts us the most."
Morgan Groover (5-11; Elwood, Ind.) and Jessica McKenzie (6-0; Zanesville/West Muskingum High School) will look for playing time in the post. McKenzie was the Division III co-player of the year in the state this winter. Groover has been slowed by injuries the last two seasons, Miller said.
Jasmine McCall (5-6; Detroit Communication & Media Arts High School), DePrice Taylor (5-7; Trinity Catholic in Harper Woods, Mich.) and Lindsey Goldsberry (5-9; Dayton Chaminade-Julienne) are the other signees.
Miller said all three will battle for playing time at guard. He likes the athletic ability of McCall, Taylor's shooting and Goldsberry's understanding of the game.
"Our big challenge is that we're going to have a big bulls-eye on our back," Miller said about next season. The Falcons are 44-18 over the last two seasons. "My colleagues in the MAC have already commented we're going to be the hunted."
