Lauren Prochaska’s health is finally close to 100 percent.

Having battled illness through the early part of the season, the junior guard looked like her old self during an 80-51 win against UNC Greensboro (1-4) Friday night, scoring a game-high 20 points in 25 minutes.

‘I’m feeling a lot better now. I’m pretty much back to normal,’ Prochaska said. ‘It feels good to finally have my energy back and being able to play some more minutes.’

The reigning Mid-American Conference Player of the Year was 7-of-11 on field goals, including four 3-pointers, while adding a team-high five rebounds.

Coach Curt Miller said seeing Prochaska’s aggression at the beginning of the game let him know she was feeling better.

‘What I really liked was the aggressiveness Lauren had out of the gate and [she was] really hunting shots and looking for offense,’ Miller said. ‘I feel real comfortable when we can get Lauren going early that it’s going to be a good night for her.’

Her performance was part of a strong Falcon offensive effort that included a 53.8 field goal percentage (28-of-52) and a 47.8 percent mark (11-of-23) on 3-pointers.

Both are improvements for the Falcons (3-2), who were shooting 41.7 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from the 3-point line coming into the game.

But more importantly, the defense stepped up to limit the Spartans to 19-of-60 (31.7 percent) on field goals. Falcon opponents had been shooting 43.4 percent from the field in the first four games this season.

‘That was our biggest key coming into the game,’ Prochaska said. ‘Our field-goal percentage defense has been something we have been talking about because we have been letting teams shoot in the 50 percent [range]. That’s something that we really focused on tonight.’

Breske hurt

Senior Tara Breske suffered a ‘significant’ ACL injury last week and did not play against UNC Greensboro.

She sustained the injury against during an 81-66 Falcon win against Oakland a week ago.

Miller said there is no timetable for her return, only that she will try to begin rehab this week and listing her as ‘day-to-day.’

BG’s center had been averaging nine points and 4.3 rebounds per game this season.

Just as important

Laura Bugher has never seen significant playing time with the Falcons, averaging 5.7 minutes and one point per game through three seasons.

But the senior made the most of her four minutes against UNC Greensboro, scoring six points and grabbing four rebounds and that performance may earn her more playing time.

‘First of all, she’s a fantastic teammate,’ Miller said. ‘She does everything right, but she’s a role player, and she really takes advantage of her opportunities when she can.

‘Tonight, she stepped up and did a lot of good things. We have to get Laura a serious look earlier in the rotation because of tonight’s performance.’

Prochaska said Bugher has been a tremendous teammate and an asset in practice through the years.

‘She battles. She does what she did tonight every single day in practice,’ Prochaska said. ‘It was really exciting for us to see her go in there tonight and have a chance to do that in a game because we see it every day in practice.’

What’s next

The Falcons will play St. Francis (Penn.) tonight at 7 p.m. in Anderson Arena. BG won last year’s matchup 98-74.

In their last game, the Red Flash were close to upsetting No. 20 Pittsburgh, losing 75-70. Three Red Flash players score in double-figures during that game.’