Bowling Green State University Athletics
Giese and Slagle Officially Ink With Falcons
November 14, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 14, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Bowling Green State University women's basketball head coach Curt Miller has announced the signing of Maribeth Giese (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Jess Slagle (Sidney, Ohio) to National Letters of Intent. The pair of current high school seniors will join the Orange and Brown in the upcoming 2008-09 academic year.
"The staff is excited to see commitments from both Jess and Maribeth in the early signing period," said Miller. "They are outstanding players that have the ability to make an immediate impact on our program."
Giese and Slagle, a pair of Ohio natives, will be the future of the BGSU women's basketball program as they replace yet another duo from the Buckeye State, seniors Kate Achter and Whitney Taylor. Currently, Achter and Taylor are only the second class in Falcon women's basketball history to win MAC Tournament championships in their first three seasons with the program.
Giese, an honor roll student and National Honor Society member, is balancing an Advanced Placement academic schedule while also competing for Mary Jo Huismann and the Mother of Mercy Bobcats. The 6-2 post player is the third best center in her class according to Tom Jenkins Ohio Girls' Basketball Report and the 50th best center in the country according to Mike White's All-Star Girls' Report.
As a junior she averaged 16.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. Such figures propelled Giese to distinctions such as Girls Greater Cincinnati League (GGCL) first-team and Player of the Year (Scarlet Division) and All-Ohio special mention. She was also on the AP Southwest District, Cincinnati Enquirer and Coaches' Association All-Star first-teams.
As a sophomore she built her resume with placement on the 2005 California Mercy Classic All-Tournament team, the GGCL first-team and the Coaches' Association All-Star second-team. Giese also earned her second AP Southwest District honorable mention after picking up her first as a freshman. In that first season with the Bobcats she was also a second-team GGCL member and a Cincinnati Enquirer honorable mention selection.
"Maribeth is a talented post player with important size," said Miller of his incoming forward/center.
"She was widely considered the third best center in Ohio's Class of 2008 because she is a versatile post player that is physical in the low block, but can step out and consistently make outside jumpers.
"I would consider Maribeth a `Gym Rat'; she works hard in the off season and has a goal each summer to make well over 10,000 shots."
Slagle, a 5-9 guard, and fellow honor roll student and NHS member, was named a 2007 Jim Dabbelt's preseason first-team All-Ohio selection prior to her senior season with Greg Noftz's Cavaliers of Lehman Catholic High School. She was also recently named the fifth best two-guard in the Class of 2008 by Tom Jenkins Ohio Girls' Basketball Report.
As a freshman, she and her 8.8 ppg helped the Cavs reach their second Regional Final appearance in school history. In her sophomore and junior seasons, she averaged 15 ppg and was named a two-time District 9 honors recipient, Cage Classic MVP and is a back-to-back invitee to the OGBR Top 64.
Last season, the then-junior earned All-Ohio honors and was named to the District 9 All-Star Coaches team. The LHS `2007 Best Defensive Player' was also selected as an Adidas Top Ten All-American.
"Jess is an outstanding guard that chose BGSU over numerous offers including Iowa and Michigan State of the Big Ten," said Miller.
"She has the versatility to play multiple guard positions and can score in a variety of ways. She is extremely competitive and plays with fire and emotion.
"The greatest compliment about Jess is that she is a winner. From high school volleyball and basketball to AAU basketball Jess has always been a part of winning programs."
Recently Slagle finished her final volleyball season at LHS where she won four letters and was the 2007 team Offensive Player of the Year and MVP. As a senior captain, she earned her second consecutive first-team All-District nod as well as her first All-Ohio first-team award en route to leading LHS to its second regional runner-up finish in as many seasons. As a sophomore, she was a starter on the state championship team that posted a perfect 30-0 record.
Next season will also mark the return of Akron-transfer Niki McCoy to the competitive hardwood. Currently, McCoy, a league-tested standout, is sitting out the 2007-08 season due to NCAA transfers rules, but is still training with the Falcons on a daily basis. In addition to Giese and Slagle, Miller is confident McCoy's renewed eligibility will impact the 2008-09 Falcons.
Giese and the Mercy Bobcats will begin their season on Saturday (Nov. 17) at Princeton High School while Slagle and the LHS Cavs will begin one day earlier with the opening night of their own Tip-Off Tournament. Miller and the Falcons, on the other hand, have begun 2007 and are 1-0 after beating Valparaiso. While Giese and Slagle remain local as their seasons kick into gear, the Falcons will travel to Nashville, Tenn. to face Lipscomb and Belmont on Thursday and Sunday, respectively.
##BGSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL##
