The women’s basketball team found themselves leading Kent 31-24 in the first half of Saturday’s game with 5:34 remaining. Despite the lead, the Falcons were in trouble.

Francine Miller and Kim Griech already had two fouls, and 20 seconds later, Lindsay Austin picked up her second.

Miller, Austin and Griech were all on the bench for the remainder of the half. Miller said that the three players being out was to keep them from getting in further foul trouble.

It was a gamble that hurt the Falcons.

With the three players out, the Golden Flashes went on a 16-2 run. At halftime, Kent led, 40-33.

Miller said that BG wanted to be able to get to halftime with a lead.

“You can second guess yourself, but you roll the dice,” Miller said. “Kent State was doing a good job isolating them and trying to make them pick up their third fouls, so we tried to play the rest of the half without them.”

Miller said the 16-2 run changed the momentum of the game. He said it is very important to avoid first half foul trouble.

“A low foul count in the first half has always been a big goal for us,” Miller said. “It’s a goal for every game, and we just have to continue to stay out of foul trouble.”

In the second half, BG was unable to get back the momentum they lost, never getting any closer than within two points of Kent.

Fouls continued to hurt BG, as they were called for a total of 20 personal fouls. Francine fouled out with 5:14 remaining in the game, and Griech, Karen and Stocz were each called for four fouls. Miller said it is important for the team to eliminate reach-in fouls.

“You continue to preach to your team about keeping their hands up, and not committing senseless fouls,” Miller said. “We have to keep players out of foul trouble…we can’t afford to have it.” The Falcons next game will be on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Anderson Arena against Eastern Michigan. It will be the team’s senior day.

Since the Falcons will be going on the road for the first round of the Mid-American Conference tournament, this will be the last home game for Francine, Griech, Stocz and Megan Jerome.

Miller, who has said on many occasions how pleased he is with the fan support this season, hopes that the fans come out for the game to support all of the seniors on the team. In particular, he said he hopes the fans realize what Francine has meant to the program.

“This is it for her, this is her last game,” Miller said. “In my opinion, bar none, Francine Miller is the best player ever to put on a Falcon uniform, and I’d love to see a great last crowd for these four seniors, because they have earned it and have been special people to this program.”