On Tuesday, women’s basketball coach Curt Miller said that Mid-American Conference Player of the Year Lauren Prochaska had a 25 percent chance of playing against the Indiana Hoosiers in the third round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament. Yesterday, Prochaska suited up, with a protective knee brace, and scored 22 points and snatched seven rebounds in 39 minutes of play. ‘It’s a huge time of the year,’ Prochaska said. ‘It’s down to one and done, and I just wanted to be out there for my team.’ Prochaska injured her right knee as time expired in last Sunday’s victory over the Syracuse. After needing to be helped off the court, and then hearing the’ prognosis from Miller on Tuesday, Prochaska’s season looked as if it were over. Still, as she has all season, Prochaska defied the odds and then some. Coming into to her career at BG, the biggest pitfall of Prochaska’s game was said to be her slow release. Many scouts felt that because of her inability to get shots off quickly, she wouldn’t be able to experience much success at the college level. She fixed that. In fact, she fixed the problem so much that now anyone watching would question whether it was ever a problem at all. Prochaska torched opponents this season, averaging 17.2 points per game. Her statistical standout moment was a regular season game against Central Michigan. In that game Prochaska went off to the tune of 43 points. As the season rolled on she was recognized for her standout play. Prior to the MAC Tournament, she was awarded the confernence Player’ of the Year award. She was then named to the All-Tournament First Team. Toward the end of the MAC Tournament, however, Prochaska hit a bit of a cold streak. She managed only seven points in the Falcons’ MAC Championship game loss to Ball State and finished the first half against Syracuse with just four points. That’s when Prochaska really began her legendary streak. Midway through the second half, Prochaska caught fire against the Orange. She began knocking down jump shots and finishing aggressive drives to the basket. Finally, she hit a three-pointer that served as the back breaker for that game. Prochaska injured her right knee on the final play of that game though, which brings her story back to last night’s game against Indiana. Prochaska spent all week leading up to the game on the trainers’ table, paying her sports medicine staff several visits per day, right up until yesterday. ‘I was in with the trainers seven times a day letting them know that I felt good and that I could play,’ Prochaska said. After urging the trainers to let her play, she was granted her wish and suited up for the Falcons. ‘All I do is follow the trainers advice, and they assured me she could go,’ Miller said. She started the game gingerly, as anyone with a severe hyper-extended knee and bone bruise would, but it wasn’t long before she looked like her outstanding self again. Prochaska led BG in scoring through the first half of the game with eight points, but as is usually the case with Prochaska, the second half was hers. ‘We compare her to Stephon Curry in that we want her taking every big shot late,’ Miller said. Prochaska hit shots from beyond the arc twice and repeatedly drove to the basket for layups or trips to the foul line. Of course, with Prochaska, the line may be just as good as a lay up, considering her 93.5 percent free throw percentage is second best in the nation. ‘Yeah, she was hurt,’ joked Indiana coach Felisha Legette-Jack. The game ended with a BG loss, effectively ending the Falcons’ 2008-09 campaign. After the game however, Anderson Arena didn’t hold feelings of sorrow or remorse. Some fans and players were already looking ahead to next year. After all, why wouldn’t they? The MAC Player of the Year and All-American candidate is only a sophomore.