No one said it would be easy. The BG women’s basketball team started their season with an exhibition game at Anderson Arena yesterday against Findlay. The Falcons won 61-46 despite a not-so-pleasing shooting percentage.
The Falcons shot just 31 percent from the field in the game, 22 in the second half.
“Exhibition games are used to learn about yourself – the good and the bad,” said BG coach Curt Miller. “We found a way to win when we didn’t play really well.”
The Falcons three starting guards combined for fifteen points. Eight from freshman Lauren Prochaska and seven from Kate Achter. Lindsey Goldsberry was held scoreless in 18 minutes, but took just two shots from the field.
“When your starting backcourt goes 4-for-25 from the field, you can’t be pleased with your starting backcourt that way,” Miller said.
Achter had eight assists and six rebounds while Prochaska contributed a little bit of everything with four rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
Whitney Taylor had the kind of game Miller knew she could have all along. In her first game back from an ACL injury she suffered in December of 2006, Taylor scored 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting. She was 4-of-5 from 3-point range.
“She didn’t need to do that on the recent veteran teams that we had but that’s her role,” Miller said. “We’re going to need it, she really saved us tonight.”
Taylor was just glad to be back.
“Getting ready before the game, I was just so excited,” she said, smiling. “It was great, it was like being home again.”
The freshman class has a lot of expectations, they replace a senior class that made a habit out of postseason success. The seven players combined for 28 points on 8-of-31 shooting. Miller knows there will be growing pains with his new core.
“We’ve got to find out why we didn’t put the ball in the basket today,” Miller said. “Any game is a teaching game but I think we’ll learn a lot from tonight.”
The younger players are ready for what’s ahead, though.
“Coming in I know there is high expectations from the freshman but we all come in with a lot of confidence and we’re here to win,” said forward Crystal Murdaugh.
While the freshmen got a taste of college basketball, Taylor got a taste of what it was like to lead her team to victory, both on and off the court.
“It’s definitely a change from last year,” Taylor said. “It’s been some adjusting and a lot of learning but it’s awesome.”
Findlay shot 29 percent for the game. They were led by forward Ashley Westenbarger and guards Audra Mihalic and Brittany Wells who scored 12, 11 and 10 points respectively.
Findlay scored 15 points from 17 BG turnovers. The Oilers turned it over 20 times but gave up just five points from their mistakes.
