2008 Woodie Awards
Flying into the WNIT
Falcons to host Dayton in the first round of the Women's NIT
By: Chris Voloschuk
Issue date: 3/20/08 Section: Sports
There is indeed life after a Mid-American Conference Tournament loss, and it includes an extra home game.
The BG women's basketball team made the regular season count more than most. By finishing the season with the best record in the MAC at 13-3, the Falcons guaranteed themselves a bid to the Women's National Invitational Tournament.
Now, they will face Dayton tonight at Anderson Arena, with the opening tip set for 7 p.m.
Although the team fell short of its even larger goal of winning the MAC tourney and moving on to March Madness, head coach Curt Miller said the players still know the WNIT is a good situation to be in.
"I think we're genuinely really excited about being in the WNIT," Miller said.
According to Miller, team captains Kate Achter and Whitney Taylor sent him encouraging text messages shortly after losing the tough semifinal game to Ohio, 68-66, in double overtime.
"[The texts said] we are very excited, and trust me coach, we will have this young team ready and excited to play in the WNIT," Miller said. "That came from 22-year-olds on a night where they could've been devastated with the type of heart-breaking loss that it was … They look at this as an awesome opportunity."
Although they didn't meet at any point during the regular season, both teams are very familiar with one another.
They scrimmaged in the preseason.
"[Dayton] is a strong team," said junior forward Lindsey Goldsberry. "They come from a great coached team … They're very good. They play a lot like us. They have the same kind of offense and the same kind of defense."
This year, UD posted a record of 25-8 (9-5). Much like the Falcons in the MAC, they lost in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
"It is a lot of fun, because we study a lot in the offseason together as coaching staffs, because we believe in the same philosophies," Miller said. "We'll be mirror images of each other."
Both teams also run identical ball screen offenses and work to contest as many shots as possible on the defensive end of the floor.
The BG women's basketball team made the regular season count more than most. By finishing the season with the best record in the MAC at 13-3, the Falcons guaranteed themselves a bid to the Women's National Invitational Tournament.
Now, they will face Dayton tonight at Anderson Arena, with the opening tip set for 7 p.m.
Although the team fell short of its even larger goal of winning the MAC tourney and moving on to March Madness, head coach Curt Miller said the players still know the WNIT is a good situation to be in.
"I think we're genuinely really excited about being in the WNIT," Miller said.
According to Miller, team captains Kate Achter and Whitney Taylor sent him encouraging text messages shortly after losing the tough semifinal game to Ohio, 68-66, in double overtime.
"[The texts said] we are very excited, and trust me coach, we will have this young team ready and excited to play in the WNIT," Miller said. "That came from 22-year-olds on a night where they could've been devastated with the type of heart-breaking loss that it was … They look at this as an awesome opportunity."
Although they didn't meet at any point during the regular season, both teams are very familiar with one another.
They scrimmaged in the preseason.
"[Dayton] is a strong team," said junior forward Lindsey Goldsberry. "They come from a great coached team … They're very good. They play a lot like us. They have the same kind of offense and the same kind of defense."
This year, UD posted a record of 25-8 (9-5). Much like the Falcons in the MAC, they lost in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
"It is a lot of fun, because we study a lot in the offseason together as coaching staffs, because we believe in the same philosophies," Miller said. "We'll be mirror images of each other."
Both teams also run identical ball screen offenses and work to contest as many shots as possible on the defensive end of the floor.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Dan Gates
posted 3/20/08 @ 4:52 AM EST
Has the university offered Miller the men's job?
It seems like he's earned it. For the last three years, I've heard nothing but good news from the women's program . (Continued…)
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