Two straight Mid-American Conference Championships, a 25-game win streak in the conference, and three 1,000-point scorers. Those are some statistics that could satisfy any fan of a mid-major women’s basketball program. At BG, it seems as though the sky is the limit.
Wins over Temple and Indiana have the Falcons ranked No. 22 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. On Tuesday when the poll comes out, the Falcons may surpass their previous high in the poll which was No. 20.
BG was 9-19 in Curt Miller’s first season. Since then he’s won ninety games and with a win tomorrow, he’ll reach the century mark. Miller admits that it happened a lot sooner than he may have thought during the 2001-02 season.
“One hundred wins seems a long way away when you’re starting out and you have nine wins,” Miller laughed. “It’s pretty exciting to almost be at 100. The other day, we all glanced at the No. 1 ball and said ‘it doesn’t seem that long ago that we got No. 1.'”
It almost seems fitting that Miller would be talking about his 100th win with the Falcons just one day after he coached his 100th game with BG’s current senior class. Ali Mann, Liz Honegger, Carin Horne, Megan Thorburn and Amber Flynn have a record of 78-21 at BG and have won the past two MAC regular season and tournament championships.
“It’s an amazing ride and we’ve won 70-percent of our games since that class arrived on campus. So it’s been a fun run and certainly we don’t want it to end anytime soon,” Miller said.
Miller almost always gives his staff credit for his success. Yesterday was no different.
“The blueprint was set out all the way back when I hired my staff. I went out and looked for people to surround myself that were passionate about the game and that loved to recruit,” Miller said. ” I have just an absolutely tremendous staff that loves to recruit and is passionate about recruiting.”
Miller also cited the ability he and his staff have had to find players who weren’t as highly recruited that have potential.
“We’ve targeted overachievers and kids that have fallen under the radar and fortunately some of the most competitive kids I’ve ever been around,” Miller said. “As the dreamer conferences chase after dreamer kids we try to get kids that they’re going to regret not getting before they come back and try to get them.”
BG still has games against Duke and Delaware before delving into a tough MAC schedule, both of which are tough opponents. Duke is ranked No. 4 in both the AP and Coaches Poll with a 7-0 record and Delaware who is 7-1 and is receiving votes in both polls.
Delaware was one of just three Falcon losses last season.
The Falcons can’t overlook the task at hand though. They’ll travel to St. Bonaventure, NY this weekend. The Bonnies have potential, and Miller is aware of the type of basketball they play.
“They bring a unique style, they do a really good job of getting you spread out. Their movement, very similar to Oakland, can hurt you in the fact that if you get caught in screens,” Miller said. “If you’re not ready they can dribble penetrate you and when you come with help they kick [out to the perimeter]. They play to their strengths.”
St. Bonaventure is 4-4 on the season and is led by senior forward Audrey Latendresse. In their most recent action, the Bonnies beat Cleveland State to end a 12-game road losing streak. Latendresse scored 22 points and pulled off 10 rebounds.
