Pursuit of perfection

Andrew Harner and Andrew Harner

Lauren Prochaska loves to feast on Miami. Last season, Prochaska scored a total of 41 points in the two regular season contests against the RedHawks, and in this season’s Jan. 14 game, she tied a then-career high 32 points. The No. 25 Falcons (25-2, 13-0 Mid-AMerican Conference) will be looking for Prochaska to continue her strong scoring efforts tonight as BG takes on Miami (13-14, 5-9 MAC). Coach Curt Miller is very aware of how his team will be portrayed in Millett Hall tonight. ‘We know we’re walking down there with a bullseye on our back,’ Miller said. Not only that, the RedHawks are determined to break out of a five-game losing streak that dates back to Jan. 11 when they lost to Northern Illinois. Since then, the team has yet to score their season average of 66.4 points per game, including two games of less than 50 points. The fact the team is on a losing streak is also a concern of Miller’s. ‘What a better way to get out of a slump than to ruin BG’s perfect season and beat BG,’ Miller said. ‘All of sudden you right the ship as you head into the MAC Tournament.’ Not only would a Miami win break BG’s perfect conference season, it was prevent them from tying yet another MAC record. With their 25-game winning streak, the Falcons have the longest streak in school history as well as the second longest streak in conference history. The only team that did better was the 1983-84 Central Michigan squad that finished 27-3 including a perfect 18-0 MAC record. That team lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Alabama 78-70. With a win, Miami coach Maria Fantanarosa can go back to a tie with Miller for fourth place on the all-time wins list among MAC coaches. After beating Kent State last Saturday, Miller recorded his 175th career win, which gave him one more win than Fantanarosa, who had been holding the spot all season. To get that win, Fantanarosa will be relying on MAC Player of the Year candidate Jenna Schone who is averaging 15.6 points per game. Schone has seen more action than BG’s P.O.Y. candidate Prochaska averaging 37.3 minutes per game compared to Prochaska’s 35.9. Tonight’s game tips off at 7 p.m.