Bowling Green State University Athletics
Can Falcon Women Return Even Stronger?
August 23, 2005 | Women's Basketball
Aug. 22, 2005
By Sentinel Sports Staff - Last season's women's basketball team at Bowling Green set a high standard.
And with five starters returning from a team which went 23-8 overall in 2004-05, the expectations are there to bypass those standards.
The Falcons had the best record in the Mid-American Conference, won the conference tournament and extended No. 16 Kansas State to the final minute in the first round of the NCAA tournament before losing.
"We have a lot of talented players coming back," BG head coach Curt Miller said. "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, are juniors this season and were BG's top three scorers last season. Honegger led the team averaging 14.5 points per game followed by Mann, 13.8 ppg and Horne, 11.4 ppg. Honegger and Mann combined to average 15.5 rebounds a game.
Kate Achter, a 5-8 sophomore, was the MVP of the MAC tournament and averaged 11.0 points a game and led the team with 124 assists.
Casey McDowell, 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 at three spots last 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, a 6-2 senior, will be given the first opportunity to fill Kapferer's role. Amber Flynn, a 6-0 junior, could also be a factor.
At the guard/wing spots, Megan Thorburn, a 6-1 junior, and Whitney Taylor, 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 last season, 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 redshirt sophomore, missed last season with an injury.
"She's kind of the 'X' factor of the returnees," 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 locker room, 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 the upcoming 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."
