Rings and a Banner and a Win!!

On Friday, November 13th, the BGSU Women's Basketball Team opened the 2009-2010 by honoring the 2008-2009 Five Time MAC Champions. The team received their rings and unveiled their 2009 WNIT banner. The Falcons advanced to the third round of the WNIT last season, after winning their 5th straight MAC Regular Season Championship. In attendance was the winningest player (men's and women's) in MAC history, Lindsey Goldsberry, to receive her ring and unveil the banner. She was the lone senior on last year's championship team.

After the ceremony, the Falcons won the first round of the Preseason WNIT tournament by defeating Chicago State 76-41. Below is the video of the ring and banner ceremony, as well as a link to the story of the game, with post game interviews with Coach Miller and Tamika Nurse.

http://www.bgsufalcons.com/news/2009/11/10/WBB_1110093731.aspx

Roll Along!!

First Glimpse of the 2009-10 Falcons

Maggie Hennegan had a double-double in her debut in a Falcon uniform

We defeated Findlay last night in our first exhibition game 80-50. It was great to finally put on uniforms and play against someone besides ourselves and our men's practice squad. There were some bright spots throughout the night, but we still have a lot to work on before our first official game in the Preseason WNIT on Friday, November 13th.

Here's all the details and audio from the post game press conference, courtesy of the most amazing SID in the country, Mike Cihon.

http://www.bgsufalcons.com/news/2009/11/4/WBB_1104090141.aspx


Also, thanks to the over 1,100 fans that came out to Anderson Arena last night to support us and welcome all of our newcomers to the House that Roars!





Let the games begin!!

Can't Make it to Anderson this season??

There are many ways to keep up with the Falcons this season, even if you can't make it to Anderson Arena! Now keep in mind, it would be better to witness Coach Miller's foot stomping in person, but here are three options to help you see your favorite women's basketball team in action if you can't be here!

1. All home games will be broadcast on BCSN and show locally.

2. The Falcons will be featured twice this season on Fox Sports. The first time will be on Saturday, February 6th when we travel to Ball State. The MAC Championship re-match will be aired at 2:30 pm EST. The next game will be our Senior Night on Saturday, February 27th at Noon EST vs. Kent State.

http://www.bgsufalcons.com/news/2009/10/29/WBB_1029095956.aspx

3. Finally, this year you can view all home games streamed LIVE online! B2 networks will be streaming all of our home games and some of our road games, if our opponent is also a member. Go to the following website for more information:

http://www.b2livetv.com/partner_members.asp?id=283

Whether you are snowed in or live outside of the area, you can still follow the Falcons on their race for their 6th consecutive MAC Championship!!

Countdown to tip off in the Preseason WNIT: 15 days!!

Roll Along!!

It's Been a Busy Month for the Falcons...

October is a great month! The Women's Basketball team and coaching staff have been busy this month preparing for another great season. They have been on the road recruiting, talking at coaching clinics, hosting visits, attending dinners, preparing for the start of practice, and some pumpkin carving with the team to end the month!

Here are a few of the highlights:

1. Coach Roos had her contract extended to match Coach Miller's! This is an amazing honor and a credit to our athletic department for "thinking outside the box." Congrats Jennifer!!

Here's the link to the story: http://www.bgsufalcons.com/news/2009/10/13/WBB_1013090915.aspx

2. Coach Miller recently spoke at the District 8 High School Coaches Clinic at the University of Northwestern Ohio in Lima. He is asked regularly to speak about our High Ballscreen Offense. Over 70 high school girl's and boy's high school coaches were in attendance. And of course, his trusty assistants were also on hand to film, take pictures, and assist with his on court demonstrations. He is a good boss, however, as he did treat us to dinner afterwards! ;)

3. To celebrate the start of practice, the team enjoyed a family meal last week at SamB's. After a tough two hour practice, the team was treated to a great dinner at the favorite local restaurant. Chicken, pasta, salmon, and steak were all on the menu and our team had no trouble cleaning their plates!

4. Also last week, the men's and women's basketball teams held the Annual Tip Off Dinner. There were over 150 people in attendance to get introduced to the 2009-2010 teams, have a great meal and listen to Coach Miller and Coach Orr discuss the upcoming seasons. The event was hosted by two fantastic former Falcons: Women's basketball alum Kate Achter and Men's basketball alum Anthony Stacey. I do believe the theme of the night was the adjustment from high school to college basketball and how much the freshmen seem to be getting yelled at these days!! :) The sophomores in the room were the happiest group, as the attention is now off of them!

5. This past weekend the coaching staff was able to celebrate a momentous occasion. A great former Falcon, Sara Putoff, was inducted into the Hall of Fame. It is an incredible honor and we are so proud to have been able to share the day with her. She had two full tables of family and former teammates there to celebrate with her. Although we never had the opportunity to coach Sara, she remains one of our friends and biggest supporters. We do still wish she had some eligibility left because we would certainly find a new uniform for her!! Congrats Sara!!

Coach Miller and Sara Puthoff with her Hall of Fame Picture

Coach Miller and alumnae Fran Miller, Michelle Terry, Jackie Adlington, Sara Puthoff, Bridget Andrews, Jaymee Wappes, Angie Farmer

6. The team also had their annual pumpkin carving contest this weekend at Coach Roos's house. We had a sundae bar for dessert and then they all got to work on their pumpkins. The creativity was flowing as they prepared for their presentations. The lights were turned out and in groups of 4 they presented their pumpkins for the coaches to judge! All of them were great and we were very impressed. Enjoy the entertaining pictures below of the winning pumpkins.

The winning team preparing for pumpkin carving domination

Scary. Only certain members of the team were allowed to touch the knives...

Pumpkin guts

The Winning Pumpkin: "The Swine Flu featuring Lauren Prochaska"...courtesy of Tamika Nurse, Tracy Pontius, Kelly Zuercher, and Sarah Clapper (there were some added effects coming out of the pumpkin's mouth that were not photograped due to the graphic nature of the flu.) :)

"Rolling for a Sixth Championship"...courtesy of Maggie Hennegan, Chrissy Steffen, and Jen Uhl

"Disco Dancing Ball featuring Coach Miller the running man headed for the Big Dance"...Courtesy of Laura Bugher, Simone Eli, Tara Breske, and Chelsea Albert"Kicking Butt this season"...courtesy of Jess Slagle, Danielle Havel and Jessie Tamerlano

7. Lastly, Lauren Prochaska and Tracy Pontius were both recently named to the Full Court Press Pre-Season Mid-Major Top 25 list. It's a great honor for both of our juniors as they prepare to lead our team on the "Race for Seis", or the run for our sixth MAC Championship!!

Here is the link to the story: http://www.bgsufalcons.com/news/2009/10/26/WBB_1026090245.aspx

Whew! I know that was alot but, like I said, it's been a busy month for the Falcons!! Our exhibition game is one week from today, so make sure you get out to Anderson Arena next Wednesday! The home opener will be on Friday, November 13th versus Chicago State in the Preseason WNIT tournament. Prior to the game, we will be revealing our Fifth Championship banner and presenting the team with their rings!

Roll Along!!

Meet the Newcomers Part 5: Simone Eli

Team Scavenger Hunt

Strong Woman Competition

Simone Eli

HELLO!! I’m Simone Eli from GENOA, Ohio...yes a local. I am the oldest of five children. My brothers are Nolan (17) and Connor (13). I also have two sisters, Athena(11) and Sophie(7). My parents are Art and Rebecca Eli and they both attended BGSU. My father played baseball for the Falcons as well. I graduated from Genoa High School, and am currently changing my major from Education to Journalism to hopefully Sports Broadcast someday.

Our first official practice was Friday, and right off the bat the transition from high school basketball to college basketball began. We started learning right from the get-go . . .many offensive plays as well as defensive formations. Going from nearly an all zone defense on my high school team to an ALL MAN college defense has been the biggest challenge of not only my basketball career, but probably life. =] We are greatly pushed every second of practice not only by our coaches, but by our teammates as well. We are a family, so always remembering that no matter what, we’re going to pick each other back up. One major difference between high school and college ball is the “togetherness” and the “enthusiasm” of everyone during practice. There is, almost all the time, a very positive atmosphere, and just brings everyone closer, and performing even better.

Since the summer started, and the fall has begun, I have made 16 best friends, whom I love to see every day. Among them, the other “freshies”, Danielle and I have become very close. From our Wednesday night Cougar Town episodes to our Sunday night Desperate Housewives, our random trips to Dairy Queen and our 3 am fire alarms sending us outside for 40 minutes in front of Kreischer . . . I have developed not only memories, but friendships that will last a LIFETIME!

Go Falcons!
Simone Eli =]

Meet the Newcomers Part 4: Jessie Tammerlano

Me and Chrissy

At a football game

Jessie Tammerlano

Hello, my name is Jessie Tamerlano and I am from North Royalton, Ohio. I have three sisters. My older sisters are Katie and Jackie, who is a junior on the soccer team here at Bowling Green. I also have a little sister Amanda who is a junior at North Royalton High School. My parents are Nick and Kathy Tamerlano. I went to North Royalton High School where I played four years of varsity basketball and soccer. My sophomore year, my sister Jackie and I made it to the state semis for soccer.

We had our first official practice last Friday the sixteenth, and it was an eye opener for my college career. I have never been through a three hour practice at one time. I just have to make sure my ADD does not set in. (just kidding) So far they have been going well, but very challenging. The upperclassmen really help us with the new plays and where to be on defense. Communication really makes a big difference in practice; it builds up everyone’s momentum and really gets people going.

From the start of the summer it was obvious that the team really got along. We were welcomed and became part of the family right away. It is a lot of fun being a part of this team, whether it’s eating in the café with the other freshmen or going out to team activities. The first thing we ever did, as a team, was a team scavenger hunt organized by Jess Slagle. All of us freshmen thought that we were going be have to do some type of initiation to get into BKB (our team "sorority"), but luckily it was nothing like that. It was a fun time that allowed us to get to know our upperclassmen teammates better and their way of letting us know that we were now a part of something very special. We already have so many great memories, such as the team golf outing, the lunch with the coaches (killing them in cornhole with Danielle Havel), and the new Sunday night routine of watching Desperate Housewives together. Since I have gotten here, I have watched the first three seasons so I am all caught up with Chrissy and Danielle (we like to pretend as if we are part of the show). The coaches sometimes make fun of our silliness off the court, but we know on the court we are able to take each other seriously.

I look forward to my first season as a Falcon!!

Roll Along!

Jessie Tamerlano

Meet the Newcomers Part 3: Allison Papenfuss

Nice try...get back in the weight room...

Tamika and Allison

Allison Papenfuss

Greetings Falcon Fans!

I am one of five newcomers on the team this year. I’m from nearby Whitehouse, Ohio and graduated from Anthony Wayne High School. After playing Bowling Green High School every year in my high school career it’s interesting to be attending the university just down the road. But, at the same time I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. Even after so many weeks, the team is just amazing and you become so close to them and the coaching staff. It really is like a family.

With practice just starting it is definitely an adjustment. At first it was great to have some time to adjust with just classes and workouts, because at every turn we are reminded that this isn’t high school anymore. We are required to work harder in the weight room, in the classroom and on the court. The upperclassmen have set the bar pretty high for us! As the starting date for practice rolled around, nerves really started to come up; but when the date finally arrived, I was so happy to finally be playing again. This was the end of a long journey for me, as sadly, I was forced to sit out almost all of my senior year with a stress fracture in my leg, so to be playing pain free was very exciting for me.

Little did I know, the happiness of starting practice would die quickly when the first half hour of practice was more intense than the 2 hour practices I went through in high school. However, the team really comes together and the upperclassmen really look out for us. They make sure we understand everything, although we may annoy them with dumb questions sometimes, they never show it and are so patient with us.

There’s still a lot more practices to go before we are ready to play, and as much as I dread it, I’m so happy playing basketball and am so excited for the journey that we are on.

Roll Along,
Allison Papenfuss

Meet the Newcomers Part 2: Chrissy Steffen

Allison, Chrissy, Jessie
Chrissy and Jen

Chrissy Steffen

Hi my name is Chrissy Steffen, and I am the youngest of four children. I have three older brothers: John, Tim, and Mark. The past year I became an Aunt. I have a niece, Hailey, and a nephew, Michael. My parents are John and Patty. I also have a cat named Marley (he is now on Facebook). I attended Carmel High School in Indiana, and our team won the 4A state championship my junior year.

Our first official practice started on Friday, and it is definitely a different experience than a high school practice. They have been going well so far, and I’ve already learned so many new things (especially on the defensive end). I have never had to talk this much, but I really think it makes a huge difference in practice, and it helps get us through the sometimes long 3 hours. As Coach Miller would say, “A quiet court is a losing court,” but it’s never quiet with Coach Roos and her loud clap. :) The upper classmen really help all the “newcomers/freshmen” through practice, and teach us so many different things. I am excited to start basketball season!

There have already been so many good memories since I first started here at BGSU. We’ve had the strongwoman contest, the golf outing, an “over the hill” party, and just memories we get spending time with our teammates. There is a definite bond watching our weekly TV shows like Desperate Housewives (Kevin’s favorite show), Cougar Town (thanks to Coach Miller), Grey’s Anatomy, and Private Practice. We all even have an alias for the Desperate Housewives characters, hence the nicknames Susan and Bree for Danielle and me. I love BGSU so far, and the college atmosphere here, especially my 10x14 box of a dorm room. Life isn’t too bad here, even with classes and practices. My teammates make it all worth it, and are always there for support and leadership. The weight room isn’t half bad either, plus I have these monstrous guns now that Kevin can’t even match up to. This is definitely the place for me, and I can’t wait to experience what the next four years brings.

Go Falcons!!

Chrissy "Screen Magnet" Steffen

Meet the Newcomers Part 1: Danielle Havel

Tracy, D, and Lo
D and Chrissy...teammates again!

Danielle Havel

Hey, I’m Danielle Havel and a transfer student from Depaul University. My hometown is Carmel, Indiana. My parents are John and Melissa Havel; I have an older brother Eric who goes to Purdue University, and a twin sister Sarah who plays Volleyball at College of Charleston. A fun fact is that Chrissy Steffen and I played High School Basketball together where we won the 4A State Championship my senior year at Carmel High School.

Because I am a transfer student, I am not considered anything. It is always freshmen, sophomores, and Danielle. I classify myself as a freshman though, probably because I live in the dorm with all of them (it’s awesome by the way). We started official practice Friday of last week, and they are going fantastic. Even though practice goes for 3 hours, the team still manages to have fun while working. The practices here are much different then the ones I was used to at DePaul, but the philosophy is still the same: to work hard and win games.

The team is always so fun to be around, we all get along, and it helps make practice go that much faster. I have enjoyed events such as the golf outing, newbie’s lunch with the coaches and celebrating Tamika’s 22nd (over the hill) birthday. The lunch with the coaches was especially fun because Jessie Tamerlano and I destroyed all 4 coaches in cornhole that day.** Overall, I spend most of my time with the freshmen, where we all have different personalities but that is what makes us such a good fit. We do stupid things like create a facebook page for Chrissy’s cat Marley, and have famous team quotes such as: “Got it!!” or “What is going on?!” My transition from DePaul to Bowling Green has been well worth it, and the best decision for me. Whether it is the fun coaching staff, the college town of Bowling Green, or my teammates, there is never a dull moment in BG and I cannot wait for games to start!! (where I will be cheering on the sidelines!!)

Dhavel

**Just to clarify...What Danielle meant to say was that "Kevin and Brandi DOMINATED me and Jessie in cornhole that day and then took a victory lap around the yard."

How Many Candles are on that Cake???

Happy Birthday to Coach Miller!! Good thing he's in good shape...that's a lot of candles to blow out!! The staff took him out to lunch for his birthday, then he enjoyed a nice dinner out with his family. In between, the team attacked him with silly string. :) You look great for 29 Coach!!

Video Clips from Costa Rica!

It's about time! Some of the videos have finally been uploaded in between visits, recruiting, and workouts. Here is a glimpse of some of the fun from the team's foreign tour to Costa Rica in August. Enjoy!!

Coach Miller to Coach the Falcons Through 2015!!

The Staff at Practice in Costa Rica...can't believe we've been together 8 years!

Coach Miller has the game plan for 09-10: Pura Vida!!

Bowling Green State University women’s basketball coach and National Coach of the Year finalist Curt Miller has received a two-year contract extension, BGSU Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Greg Christopher has announced. Miller’s contract now runs through June 30, 2015.

"What Curt, his staff and teams have accomplished is remarkable," said Christopher. "First they built a program, and now it has been sustained at a championship level. How Curt and his staff manage every aspect of their team is top-notch. We look forward to Curt being a part of BGSU for years to come."

Miller has built a perennial power in his eight years on campus. He has guided the Falcons to a 179-73 record in that time. After a 9-19 record in his first season (2001-02) and a 12-16 mark in his second, Miller and the Falcons are 158-38 overall (80.6%) and 83-13 (86.5%) in Mid-American Conference regular-season play over the last six seasons.

"I am grateful to Greg Christopher and the entire University administration for their commitment and support of our women's basketball program," said Miller. "I am excited about our future and look forward to sharing my extension news with recruits and their families.

"I would also like to thank my extremely talented assistant coaches for their hard work and dedication to our program. Their ability to attract high-level basketball players with incredible character has been the secret to our championship success. Finally, I would like to thank our former and current players for believing in our vision and helping establish the culture of championship success at BGSU."

Miller has been named MAC Coach of the Year an unprecedented five years running, having earned that honor every year since 2005. No other coach had won the honor more than two years in a row. He has guided BGSU to an average of over 27 wins per year over the last five seasons.In March of 2009, Miller was named the Russell Athletic/WBCA Region 4 Coach of the Year for the third time in the last four seasons, making him one of eight finalists for National Coach of the Year in each of those three years.

The Falcons have posted six consecutive seasons of over 20 wins, and have made five consecutive trips to national postseason play. BGSU won both the MAC’s regular-season and tournament titles in three-straight years, capped by a 2006-07 season which saw the Falcons go 31-4 and become the first women’s team in MAC history to advance to the NCAA’s "Sweet Sixteen." The Falcons downed Oklahoma State and Vanderbilt in the national tournament to advance to the round of 16.

The Falcons have won the MAC regular-season title in each of the last five years, and have advanced to the Postseason WNIT two consecutive seasons. BGSU’s 26-8 mark in the 2007-08 season included a first-round win in the postseason tourney.Last season, the Falcons went 29-5, posting the second-highest win total in MAC women’s basketball history (behind only the ’06-07 BGSU team). The 2008-09 Falcons received a first-round bye in the Postseason WNIT and defeated Syracuse in the second round before falling to Indiana.Over the last five years, the Falcons have a record of 72-8 (90.0%) in MAC regular-season play, including a 59-5 (92.2%) mark over the last four seasons. That includes a perfect 16-0 league record in 2005-06 and 15-1 marks in both ’06-07 and ’08-09.

Miller was named to the WBCA’s Board of Directors in June of 2009, and is also actively involved in several other committees. He is the chair of the Russell Athletic/WBCA National Coach of the Year Committee, and is also a member of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Rules Committee and the WBCA Legislative Sub-Committee.In July of 2009, Miller was named one of the top Mid-Major head coaches in NCAA Division I by the National Women’s Basketball Insider website.

After just eight years, Miller is already the fourth-winningest women’s basketball coach in MAC history. In MAC games only, he is tied for seventh in conference history with 94 regular-season wins against league foes.

The Falcons begin the 2009-10 season by participating in the Preseason WNIT. BGSU will host Chicago State in first-round action on November 13.

Fore!!!! BGSU's Annual Golf Outing Held on Sunday

Team at the Hot Dog shed
Maggie, Jess, Coach Miller, Kate, and Maribeth...Beat the Pro Hole

Kate Achter and her homemade cornhole boards

Young Alumnae Team: Coach Miller, Ali Mann, Kate Achter, Casey McDowell, Liz Honegger, Pete Winovich

Everyone Loves the Golf Outing!!

The BGSU Women's Basketball Team held their annual golf outing on Sunday, September 20th. We had over 110 golfers participate and the weather was fantastic! The players worked the course all day, collecting money on the contest holes, cooking hot dogs, running drinks, and having a great time. Former All American Kate Achter not only raised money for the program on the Beat the Pro hole, but she also donated hand-made corn hole boards that were auctioned off at the evening social. Coach Miller and Coach Roos showed off their golfing skills in the afternoon at the Beat the Pro hole. We had the largest number of women's basketball alumnae that we have ever had come home to BG and participate in the outing.

This is a huge day for our program...it's the day that some of our biggest fans, friends, and boosters come together to raise money and celebrate the beginning of a new season. At the evening social, over 120 people gathered to eat and meet the new 2009-2010 team. Coach Miller announced the winning teams and all the raffle winners. Thank you to all the sponsors and donors that made this a great day for our program!! Go Falcons!!

The Dream Becomes Reality: BGSU Breaks Ground on New Arena

Team at the groundbreaking ceremony
Staff in front of the backhoe

Sarah leading the athletes in a rendition of Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba

Kerm Stroh entering the event through the student-athletes

On September 3rd before the football game, BG officially broke ground on their brand new arena. The Women's Basketball Team and Coaching Staff would like to say a huge thank you to Kerm Stroh and his family for the lead donation. It was a great day of celebration! The event started with Kerm Stroh entering the tent through a tunnel of student-athletes. Our very own senior, Sarah Clapper, helped to MC the event. The crowd of over 200 people heard from our AD Greg Christopher, the President Carol Cartwright, and Men's Basketball player Joe Jacubowski. Kerm then addressed and thanked the crowd before climbing up on the backhoe to begin the digging!! It will be exciting to watch the progress of the Stroh Center over the next year and a half!

Lauren Prochaska Named One of Country's Top Juniors

Congratulations to Lauren!! She was named one of the Top Returning Juniors in the country.

http://www.peachstatehoops.com/?p=joppremaccess&sp=featurestories&story=KAM090409

Go Falcons!!

66 days til the season tips off!!

BG v. Chicago State

1st Round Pre-Season WNIT

7:00 pm Anderson Arena

Costa Rica Recap:In the Words of the Team and Coaching Staff

BG vs. University of Costa Rica

Team before Zip Lining

Pura Vida!!!


Team on the lava flow of Arenal Volcano

FAMILY

Tara with her first child receiving Crocs

Staff after first practice in Costa Rica

Team after zip lining

Coach Miller and Tracy--bonding before zip lining!

Team at Crocs Cares event

CHELSEA ALBERT
I don't even know where to begin - the trip to Costa Rica was amazing and went way above and beyond any expectations I had prior to the trip. This team is so fortunate and blessed to have such an awesome coaching staff that spoiled us in every way possible over the last 10 days. It was definitely a special time for team bonding that I think the whole team really enjoyed!!

One of the best parts of the trip for me was the day that we got to pass out crocs to the children from Costa Rica. Getting the opportunity to sit there and pray with the children and give the them a smile was so rewarding! I loved that! It definitely made me take a step back and realize how privileged I am with even the simple things in life. It was such an awesome feeling to see the children's faces light up!

It’s hard to pick a favorite between the whitewater rafting, canopy excursions and the hot springs because I have never done any of them before and they each had their own different element of excitement.
1. whitewater rafting - came close to death on la cucaracha but breathtaking views and super fun instructors;
2. canopy - the thrill of stepping off the platforms was one of the coolest rushes, yet it was so peaceful flying through the trees and rivers;
3. hot springs - they literally were unreal and it had to be the most relaxing thing I have done in a long time!

Now that I'm still on cloud nine from the vacation it’s definitely going to be hard to adjust back to real life!

TARA BRESKE

Hola Ticos! Costa Rica is definitely a trip I will never forget, for numerous reasons. I enjoyed all the excursions and have special memories from each and every one of them. The last zip-line was absolutely amazing as was the entire experience. The first kid that came to my station to receive Crocs was one of the most touching experiences I've ever had up to this point. That was definitely a humbling experience.The whitewater rafting was such a thrill from the bus ride in the mountains, to walking/running down a rocky mountain in the pouring rain, to falling out in the rapids and being sucked under, to dominating a level 4 rapid. The hot springs were absolutely gorgeous, and pictures or words cannot do it justice. There were many more excursions and adventures along the way, such as tarantulas and bus rides, that I will never forget. Thanks to everyone who made this all possible and such a good experience for each and every one of us. And, according to Maggie ... we're cultured!

LAURA BUGHER
The trip was fantastic! Everything from the excursions to experiencing the culture was something I will never forget. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to spend so much time in such a beautiful place with this group! It exceeded my expectations!

SARAH CLAPPERIt's hard for me to narrow it down and name any one thing that I enjoyed most about our trip to Costa Rica. Everything from the zip-lining to the Crocs to watching Chels get pounded by rocks during the white rapids of "La Cucaracha" all register up there as my top moments. It was even kinda refreshing to turn the cell phones off for a whole week and not have to worry about what text I was getting and carrying my phone around. It was an amazing experience and one that I will cherish for a lifetime -- so many fun people and so many memories!

ASSISTANT COACH KEVIN ECKERT
No matter how beautiful the scenery, no matter how fun the activity, the trip wouldn’t have been half of what it was if it weren’t for the people – both those that I traveled with, and those that we met. Even though the coolest person of all was Fred.

MARIBETH GIESE
The foreign tour was the trip of a lifetime! Being in Costa Rica for eight days was such an amazing experience. The team was able to bond together through whitewater rafting, zip-lining through the rainforest, and hiking up a volcano. While the spiders and bugs won't be missed, we will all remember the foreign tour for the rest of our lives.

MAGGIE HENNEGAN
The memories our team made together in Costa Rica will last a lifetime. The crazy experience of whitewater rafting, watching Coach Kevin and Mr. Clapper do the traditional dance, giving Crocs to kids, and zip-lining are just a few adventures we will never forget. Pura Vida!

HEAD COACH CURT MILLER
We began fund raising many years ago to plan a trip of a lifetime for our players. Mission accomplished! The trip was truly amazing and we will all be left with lifelong memories of our diverse experiences. My hope for the team during the trip was to bond together and become even closer as a family than we were when we left. It is safe to say through our adventure-filled tour that our family bond is closer than ever.
The four side trips -- whitewater rafting, zip-lining through the rainforest, hiking a volcano and going to the beach -- were unbelievable adventures, but the best part of the trip was watching our players interact with the children of Costa Rica. The players were fantastic with the Costa Rican children during the kids clinic, and the Crocs Cares (shoe giveaway) program. The smiles on their faces will be etched in my mind forever.
Lastly, I just want to say once again that I have the greatest coaching staff in the country, and I am proud to call them all my best friends.
Pura Vida.

TAMIKA NURSE

Lauren and I would like to say that we really appreciated the quality time we spent together rocking in front of the fireplace in our luxurious hut!Costa Rica was absolutely amazing. It's rare that your first playing experience at a University takes place near a tropical rainforest. It's something I'll never forget.

TRACY PONTIUS
Hola! Costa Rica was unbelievable. It was definitely one of the best trips I have ever taken. Costa Rica was beautiful and all the activities we did were so much fun. My favorite part was the whitewater rafting, and zip-lining was also a good time! It was a wonderful trip and I would definitely go back!

ASSISTANT COACH BRANDI POOLE

I don't even know how to begin to describe our trip to Costa Rica. I knew when we scheduled the foreign tour that it would be fun and a great opportunity for our team. What I didn't realize was that the actual trip would be completely above and beyond my expectations.I was really proud of our team for coming together during these nine days. In different ways, each and every one of us stepped outside of our comfort zone ... whether that be the rafting, the zip-lining, the language barrier, the bugs or the food. We all experienced new things and a whole new culture that made us all have a new appreciation for our lives here in the U.S. We truly are a family, and I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to travel with them. I try every day to find better ways to live my life, and it's easy when you work with such a fantastic group of fun people.

I think outside of fun activities, our team also got a chance to see what happens when you truly touch people's lives. The Crocs shoes event that we participated in with the IUPUI men's team and the Bethune-Cookman men's team was a day that I don't think any of us will soon forget.

As for the basketball, that was my first experience with any sort of international basketball, and I loved it! Even though the competition wasn't that strong, I loved watching our team compete and have fun playing with each other. We conducted a clinic for kids in the small town of San Ramon. I don't speak a bit of Spanish, but it's amazing what a few key phrases (muy bien = good job, dame cinco = give me five!) can do for a child. Their smiles were priceless.

I want to give a big thank you first to all the special supporters of our program that made this trip possible. Secondly, I want to give a big thanks to Coach Miller for making our dream of a foreign tour a reality. I don't think any of us will ever forget it! Pura Vida!!

ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH JENNIFER ROOS
I have been out of the country before with other teams, but this trip was very special because of this particular group. Not only was it a cultural experience of a lifetime for our team, but it was also a great experience to see our team grow even closer together. We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with lots of Costa Rican children in two communities, San Jose and San Ramon. Basketball allowed us to communicate with children who could not speak English. I don’t know if we will ever fully realize the impact that those kids had on us or how much we impacted them, but all of us will have forged lifelong memories.

JEN UHL
Our trip was definitely a trip of a lifetime. The country was beautiful, the people were very nice, I loved all of our activities, and I really loved spending so much quality time with my team.

KELLY ZUERCHER
This was an amazing trip for so many reasons! We were able to experience once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and we experienced them as a team … as a family. The whitewater rafting, ziplining, and trek through the jungle to the volcano all were just absolutely incredible! We watched teammates and coaches as they faced their fears and helped them through near-death – or so we thought – experiences (Chels, Tara, Tracy, haha).

Throughout the trip we all played different roles. We were Basketball Players when we were on the court. Teammates when we were cheering on the sideline. Encouragers when we were on zip-lining platforms. Rescuers in level 1 rapids (ha).

The roles were endless through out this trip and thats what makes it one of the most memorable trips I've ever been on. I am just so thankful that we were given this opportunity to experience another culture and the fact that we were able to do it as a team was the best part. We were already close as teammates when we went down to Costa Rica, but I feel like we definitely came back as a family, as sisters.