Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons, to No One's Surprise, Picked to Win the MAC
October 25, 2006 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 25, 2006
By JACK CARLE, Sentinel Sports Editor -
CLEVELAND -- It's no surprise that Bowling Green's women are the pick to sweep the Mid-American Conference East and tournament championships.
In fact the Falcons, 28-3 overall and 16-0 in the MAC a year, welcome the challenge.
"We're going to get everybody's best effort and I think the team realizes that," BG head coach Curt Miller said Tuesday at MAC media day. "The bull's-eye was on our backs last year, but it's really on our backs this year.
"It we just stayed status quo and did the things we did well last year, people would figure out how to stop those things," Miller added. "Every year you have to bring new wrinkles and new things into your program. Our kids have been very open and very excited about the new wrinkles that we have added so far."
The Falcons received 40 of 41 votes to win the East and 36 of 41 votes to win the MAC tournament in voting by the MAC News Media Association.
"It's a good honor to have, but we're not looking at it too much at this point," said BG junior Kate Achter.
The Falcons return all five starters, including preseason All-MAC picks Achter, Ali Mann and Liz Honegger, from last year's team. Achter averaged 10.9 points and 4.8 assists per game. Mann was the MVP of the MAC tournament and averaged 14.6 ppg. Honegger averaged 13.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and made 57 3-pointers.
"Considering we have our entire starting lineup back and nine veterans, it wasn't unexpected," Miller said about being selected to win the MAC tournament. "But with a new year come new challenges, new dynamics and certainly one of the things we believe in, new chemistry.
"Until this conference gets the respect it needs (from the NCAA tournament selection committee), it's historically a one-bid conference," Miller added. "The ultimate goal is to put yourself in position to be ready to play your best basketball come tournament time."
Even with five seniors and Achter returning, the Falcons are looking for depth. Also returning are sophomores Lindsay Goldsberry and Jasmine McCall. Freshmen Tara Breske, Laura Bugher and Sarah Clapper will also get an opportunity to play.
"So far I think our three freshmen have done a good job of learning the offenses and the defenses and taking it all in stride and not being too far behind in the whole mix," Achter said.
Eastern Michigan, 22-8 overall and 15-1 in the MAC last season, is the pick to win the MAC West. The Eagles received 21 of 41 first-place votes, but did not receive a vote to win the MAC tournament.
The Eagles have posted three straight 20-win seasons and have earned three straight post-season tournament berths.
Returning from last year's team are junior guard Patrice McKinney, a 2006 preseason All-MAC pick, and senior forward Sarah VanMetre.
SENIORS: Mann, Honegger, Carin Horne, Megan Thorburn and Amber Flynn have helped the Falcons compile a 72-21 record in their first three years at Bowling Green.
"This senior class has been tremendous to coach, but they're even better people," Miller said. "I'm energized and genuinely excited to give my best effort to this senior class. This senior class has put our program back on the map. This senior class has made me look like a better coach than I probably am.
"I'm going to work my tail off this whole year so they can leave the legacy that this class deserves."
NCAA: The Falcons ended last season with a loss to UCLA in the NCAA tournament.
"It's a motivating factor to get back out there and work just as hard to improve upon the flaws that we saw in the very last game of the season," Achter said. "We have to bring our best effort day-in and day-out, no matter who we play whether it's Duke or someone ranked much lower than Duke."
EXHIBITIONS: Bowling Green plays an exhibition game next Wednesday against Findlay at 7 p.m. in Anderson Arena.
The Falcons also play at Xavier in a closed-scrimmage on Nov. 8. Miller said Xavier, with experienced seniors in the backcourt and the No. 1 recruit in the nation, would provide a good test for his team.
