Bowling Green State University Athletics
Mann to Play Professionally in Luxembourg
July 19, 2007 | Women's Basketball
July 19, 2007
By MAUREEN FULTON, Blade Sports Writer - At least one of the super seniors on last year's Bowling Green State University women's basketball team will continue her playing career.
Ali Mann, the Mid-American Conference co-player of the year for the Falcons, has signed a contract with AB Contern in Luxembourg for the upcoming season.
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Mann is the first player in BGSU coach Curt Miller's six-year tenure to sign a professional contract.
"I'm really looking forward to it," Mann said. "I signed the contract the day before my birthday [June 26], and mailed it on my birthday. It was a pretty good day."
Mann will leave at the end of August to prepare for the season, which runs from October-May. Her team will play other teams in Luxembourg, a small European country wedged in between France, Germany and Belgium. They will also travel to play teams in Portugal, the Netherlands and other countries.
A 6-foot-1 forward, Mann averaged 15.5 points and 5.7 rebounds on 53 percent shooting her senior year.
Just like at BGSU, she will be relied on to do a lot for AB Contern. Each team in Luxembourg is only allowed one American player on its roster.
"From what my agent has told me, I should average 20-30 points a game," Mann said. "They expect you to play 40 minutes and do it all - rebound, take a lot of shots, play a lot of defense."
The amenities will match the expected production, though. As part of her nine-month contract Mann gets a car, an apartment, and health insurance in addition to a salary.
When Miller coached at Syracuse and Colorado State, some of his players joined the Luxembourg league after graduating. He has heard positive feedback about the experience.
"It's been a very comfortable league and very popular league," Miller said. "I think as Ali gets better and better she can play in more competitive leagues, but this is a great start."
ACADEMIC POLL: The BGSU women's basketball team was recently honored by the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association for being one of the 25 best academic programs in the country last season.
The Falcons' 3.3 team GPA in 2006-07 put them at 23rd on the WBCA's list.
The Falcons were the only team to finish in the academic top 25 as well as both national athletic polls. BGSU was 15th in the final USA Today coaches' poll and 20th in the final Associated Press poll.
"It speaks to the commitment and hard work of our players to not only excel on the court, but also in the classroom," Miller said.
Contact Maureen Fulton at:
mfulton@theblade.com
or 419-724-6160.
