Recovering from an 89-41 loss to start the season is never easy, but the Bowling Green women’s basketball team is trying to do just that.

After dropping their season opener to No. 9 Ohio State in the Preseason Women’s National Invitational Tournament, the Falcons are gearing up to play IPFW.

BG isn’t feeling too bad about their loss to the Buckeyes. After all, Ohio State has since blown out Saint Josephs (76-29) and No. 22 Arizona (78-45).

“Looking back at Ohio State, we feel pretty good about some stretches in the first half,” BG head coach Curt Miller said.

But then there were some times in the second half that the team played completely uncharacteristic of the Falcons’ team that finished the 2003-2004 season with a 21-10 record and an appearance in the Mid-American Conference title game. The Falcons’ high expectations for this season are part of the reason they are looking forward to playing tonight’s game in Fort Wayne.

“We’re still anxious to get back on the court,” Miller said. “The real season starts right now.”

The Falcons are expected to see a highly up-tempo offense when they go to play the Mastadons, one that features a lot of running, a lot of scoring and a lot of possessions.

Miller likened the team’s offensive concept to that of Loyola-Marymount men’s teams of the late 1980’s that consistently had scores soar into the 150s.

“They’re going to try to create a tempo we’ve never seen before,” Miller said. “They’re going to try to get 90 to 100 possessions in the game; it’s going to be played at a frantic pace.”

The Mastadons’ offensive strategy worked in their exhibition game to start the year, in which they rolled past Marian College by a score of 104-53. The game saw five players score in double figures in an offense they are calling a “controlled chaos.”

The Falcons’ men’s practice squad has played a major role in them preparing for the high speed they will see tonight.

“The men’s practice squad has prepared us well,” Miller said. “All week long we’ve worked hard against the guy’s team in an up-tempo style.”

The Falcons run a fast-pace offense themselves. They return all but two players from last year’s squad and are looking to surpass their accomplishments from last year.

The Falcons know in order to accomplish these goals, they are going to have to play their style of basketball starting tonight.

“We have to continue to play at our pace,” Miller said. “The biggest concern is that they will get you to play faster than you want to.

“Our expectation is to go out there and compete and put together a 40-minute game; it’s just another opportunity for us to go out and win on the road.”

The Falcons will try to get back on a roll when they meet IPFW at the Hilliard Gates Sports Center tonight at eight.