2009-2010 Tri-Captains: Maggie Hennegan, Sarah Clapper, and Tara BreskeThe Bowling Green State University women's basketball team will play at least six games against teams that advanced to national postseason play last March. Falcon head coach Curt Miller recently announced the 2009-10 schedule for the five-time defending Mid-American Conference champions.
“I am excited about our 2009-10 schedule,” said Miller. “This is arguably the toughest non-conference schedule we have had during our coaching staff’s tenure at BGSU.
“Our scheduling philosophy is simple: play a challenging non-league schedule that will help prepare our team for the grind of Mid-American Conference play. With this year’s list of non-league opponents, we feel we have done just that.”
BGSU will play at least 10 games against teams that posted 18 or more wins a year ago, including at least six games vs. schools that won 20 or more games. Two of BG’s opponents advanced to the NCAA Championships in 2008-09, while four other Falcon foes – like BG – were invited to the WNIT in March.
After advancing to the third round of last season’s Postseason WNIT, Miller’s Falcons will begin the 2009-10 season in the Preseason WNIT. The Falcons are guaranteed at least three games in the 16-team tournament, beginning with a first-round game vs. Chicago State at venerable Anderson Arena.
The winner of the BGSU-CSU game will face the Eastern Illinois-Ohio State winner in the second round, at a site to be determined on the following Sunday or Monday (Nov. 15-16). The Buckeyes, like the Falcons, posted 29 wins a year ago, while EIU picked up a total of 24 victories last season.
Under the Preseason WNIT format, participating teams are guaranteed at least three games. The tourney involves 16 teams from 16 different conferences that were included by invitation only.
The BGSU-CSU loser will be regrouped into a ‘Consolation Bracket quad,’ which will be a four-team pool, and will play two games at a site to be determined.
“We are honored to be able to participate in the prestigious Preseason WNIT, joining some of the elite programs in the country,” said Miller. “We are truly excited to play at least 13 games in front of our outstanding fan base at Anderson Arena. And, our schedule also includes numerous road trips where we will play teams that have enjoyed great tradition and success.”
Following the Preseason WNIT, the Falcons will head north to face Oakland University on Tuesday, Nov. 24. The Golden Grizzlies won 26 games, a school record for the Division-I Era, and advanced to the WNIT. The BGSU-OU matchup features schools that went a combined 55-12 a year ago.
The Falcons then return home for a pair of games, facing UNC-Greensboro on the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 27) before opening December against Saint Francis (Pa.). Both games are return matches from a season ago, when the Brown and Orange faced both clubs during a week-long sojourn over Thanksgiving break. The Red Flash and Spartans were the second and fourth victims, respectively, in BGSU’s school-record 25-game winning streak.
Following the SFU game, the Falcons will head to Nashville for a tough test against Vanderbilt (Dec. 4). That game is a rematch of one of the biggest wins in BGSU history, a victory over the Commodores in the second round of the 2007 NCAA Championships in East Lansing, Mich. That win sent the Brown and Orange on to the ‘Sweet 16’ for the first time in program history.
The Vanderbilt game is the first of five-straight road contests, including trips to Detroit (Dec. 9), Saint Bonaventure (Dec. 12), Canisius (Dec. 19) and Youngstown State (Dec. 21). Both of the New York foes had stellar seasons a year ago, setting school records for wins. The Bonnies won 23 games and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the WNIT, while the Golden Griffins had 24 victories, a school record for their Division-I Era, and were one win away from playing at BGSU in March. Canisius lost to Syracuse in the first round of the WNIT, with the Orange advancing to face the Falcons.
The Canisius and YSU games are part of a stretch that sees the Falcons play three times in a five-day span. Last-minute Christmas shopping will have to be put on hold as BGSU hosts Appalachian State on Dec. 23, marking the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Mountaineers are one of two first-time opponents on the 2009-10 schedule (Canisius is the other).
Following the holidays, the Falcons head East for another tough test, taking on Hartford (Dec. 30) in a rematch of a narrow BGSU win at Anderson last season. The Hawks went on to win 20 games against a grueling schedule, advancing to the WNIT.
BGSU closes the non-conference slate and opens the 2010 calendar year with a Jan. 2 vs. SIU Edwardsville, another return date from a 2008-09 game.
In league action, the Falcons, winners of the last five MAC regular-season titles, will play two games against each of the five other East Division schools, while facing each of the six West Division teams once apiece.
The East Division consists of Akron, Buffalo, Kent State, Miami and Ohio, in addition to the Brown and Orange. The Falcons will open the league slate with five games vs. East Division opponents, before playing six contests vs. West Division foes and concluding the regular-season schedule with five more games against the East.
Miller and the Falcons will begin their title defense with a home game vs. UA on Jan. 6, before heading to Athens to face Ohio three days later. The first swing through the East Division also sees the Falcons sandwich home dates vs. Buffalo (Jan. 13) and Miami (Jan. 19) around a trip to Kent State (Jan. 16).
The Miami matchup begins a three-game homestand for the Falcons, who will begin cross-divisional play by welcoming Eastern Michigan (Jan. 23) and Western Michigan (Jan. 27) to “The House That Roars.”
The annual battle of Northwest Ohio takes place in Savage Arena on Jan. 30, as the Falcons make the short trip north to take on Toledo.
February begins with a home date against Northern Illinois on Groundhog Day (Feb. 2), before the Falcons close the regular season with five of their last seven games on the road. BGSU will face Ball State in Muncie on Feb. 6, in a rematch of last year’s Kraft MAC Tournament championship game. The Cardinals pulled out a 55-51 victory at Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland to capture the tourney title.
A trip to Central Michigan (Feb. 10) closes out the six-game stretch against the West Division, and the Falcons then return home to face Ohio (Feb. 13). The second round-robin swing through the East includes three road games, at Akron (Feb. 20), Buffalo (Feb. 24) and Miami (March 2). BGSU will host Kent State on Feb. 27, when the Falcons’ senior class – Tara Breske, Laura Bugher, Sarah Clapper and Tamika Nurse – will be honored in pregame ‘Senior Day’ ceremonies.
Following the close of the regular season, the top-eight teams in the final standings will convene in Cleveland for the 2010 MAC Tournament. This is a change from recent years, when all teams made the conference tourney.
The Falcons are coming off a 29-5 season, in which Miller and Company went 15-1 in the MAC en route to that fifth-straight regular-season crown. BGSU returns 10 letterwinners from that team, plus a pair of NCAA Division-I transfers (Nurse and Maggie Hennegan) who sat out last year. Miller and his staff – associate head coach Jennifer Roos, assistants Brandi Poole and Kevin Eckert and director of basketball operations Monique Rosati – also welcome four talented freshmen to the Falcon fold.
The fun begins with a home exhibition game vs. Findlay on Nov. 4 at "The House That Roars."
The complete 2009-10 schedule follows. For the most up-to-date schedule throughout the season, click the schedule link on the women's basketball page, or consult the Calendar of Events here at BGSUFalcons.com.
“I am excited about our 2009-10 schedule,” said Miller. “This is arguably the toughest non-conference schedule we have had during our coaching staff’s tenure at BGSU.
“Our scheduling philosophy is simple: play a challenging non-league schedule that will help prepare our team for the grind of Mid-American Conference play. With this year’s list of non-league opponents, we feel we have done just that.”
BGSU will play at least 10 games against teams that posted 18 or more wins a year ago, including at least six games vs. schools that won 20 or more games. Two of BG’s opponents advanced to the NCAA Championships in 2008-09, while four other Falcon foes – like BG – were invited to the WNIT in March.
After advancing to the third round of last season’s Postseason WNIT, Miller’s Falcons will begin the 2009-10 season in the Preseason WNIT. The Falcons are guaranteed at least three games in the 16-team tournament, beginning with a first-round game vs. Chicago State at venerable Anderson Arena.
The winner of the BGSU-CSU game will face the Eastern Illinois-Ohio State winner in the second round, at a site to be determined on the following Sunday or Monday (Nov. 15-16). The Buckeyes, like the Falcons, posted 29 wins a year ago, while EIU picked up a total of 24 victories last season.
Under the Preseason WNIT format, participating teams are guaranteed at least three games. The tourney involves 16 teams from 16 different conferences that were included by invitation only.
The BGSU-CSU loser will be regrouped into a ‘Consolation Bracket quad,’ which will be a four-team pool, and will play two games at a site to be determined.
“We are honored to be able to participate in the prestigious Preseason WNIT, joining some of the elite programs in the country,” said Miller. “We are truly excited to play at least 13 games in front of our outstanding fan base at Anderson Arena. And, our schedule also includes numerous road trips where we will play teams that have enjoyed great tradition and success.”
Following the Preseason WNIT, the Falcons will head north to face Oakland University on Tuesday, Nov. 24. The Golden Grizzlies won 26 games, a school record for the Division-I Era, and advanced to the WNIT. The BGSU-OU matchup features schools that went a combined 55-12 a year ago.
The Falcons then return home for a pair of games, facing UNC-Greensboro on the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 27) before opening December against Saint Francis (Pa.). Both games are return matches from a season ago, when the Brown and Orange faced both clubs during a week-long sojourn over Thanksgiving break. The Red Flash and Spartans were the second and fourth victims, respectively, in BGSU’s school-record 25-game winning streak.
Following the SFU game, the Falcons will head to Nashville for a tough test against Vanderbilt (Dec. 4). That game is a rematch of one of the biggest wins in BGSU history, a victory over the Commodores in the second round of the 2007 NCAA Championships in East Lansing, Mich. That win sent the Brown and Orange on to the ‘Sweet 16’ for the first time in program history.
The Vanderbilt game is the first of five-straight road contests, including trips to Detroit (Dec. 9), Saint Bonaventure (Dec. 12), Canisius (Dec. 19) and Youngstown State (Dec. 21). Both of the New York foes had stellar seasons a year ago, setting school records for wins. The Bonnies won 23 games and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the WNIT, while the Golden Griffins had 24 victories, a school record for their Division-I Era, and were one win away from playing at BGSU in March. Canisius lost to Syracuse in the first round of the WNIT, with the Orange advancing to face the Falcons.
The Canisius and YSU games are part of a stretch that sees the Falcons play three times in a five-day span. Last-minute Christmas shopping will have to be put on hold as BGSU hosts Appalachian State on Dec. 23, marking the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Mountaineers are one of two first-time opponents on the 2009-10 schedule (Canisius is the other).
Following the holidays, the Falcons head East for another tough test, taking on Hartford (Dec. 30) in a rematch of a narrow BGSU win at Anderson last season. The Hawks went on to win 20 games against a grueling schedule, advancing to the WNIT.
BGSU closes the non-conference slate and opens the 2010 calendar year with a Jan. 2 vs. SIU Edwardsville, another return date from a 2008-09 game.
In league action, the Falcons, winners of the last five MAC regular-season titles, will play two games against each of the five other East Division schools, while facing each of the six West Division teams once apiece.
The East Division consists of Akron, Buffalo, Kent State, Miami and Ohio, in addition to the Brown and Orange. The Falcons will open the league slate with five games vs. East Division opponents, before playing six contests vs. West Division foes and concluding the regular-season schedule with five more games against the East.
Miller and the Falcons will begin their title defense with a home game vs. UA on Jan. 6, before heading to Athens to face Ohio three days later. The first swing through the East Division also sees the Falcons sandwich home dates vs. Buffalo (Jan. 13) and Miami (Jan. 19) around a trip to Kent State (Jan. 16).
The Miami matchup begins a three-game homestand for the Falcons, who will begin cross-divisional play by welcoming Eastern Michigan (Jan. 23) and Western Michigan (Jan. 27) to “The House That Roars.”
The annual battle of Northwest Ohio takes place in Savage Arena on Jan. 30, as the Falcons make the short trip north to take on Toledo.
February begins with a home date against Northern Illinois on Groundhog Day (Feb. 2), before the Falcons close the regular season with five of their last seven games on the road. BGSU will face Ball State in Muncie on Feb. 6, in a rematch of last year’s Kraft MAC Tournament championship game. The Cardinals pulled out a 55-51 victory at Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland to capture the tourney title.
A trip to Central Michigan (Feb. 10) closes out the six-game stretch against the West Division, and the Falcons then return home to face Ohio (Feb. 13). The second round-robin swing through the East includes three road games, at Akron (Feb. 20), Buffalo (Feb. 24) and Miami (March 2). BGSU will host Kent State on Feb. 27, when the Falcons’ senior class – Tara Breske, Laura Bugher, Sarah Clapper and Tamika Nurse – will be honored in pregame ‘Senior Day’ ceremonies.
Following the close of the regular season, the top-eight teams in the final standings will convene in Cleveland for the 2010 MAC Tournament. This is a change from recent years, when all teams made the conference tourney.
The Falcons are coming off a 29-5 season, in which Miller and Company went 15-1 in the MAC en route to that fifth-straight regular-season crown. BGSU returns 10 letterwinners from that team, plus a pair of NCAA Division-I transfers (Nurse and Maggie Hennegan) who sat out last year. Miller and his staff – associate head coach Jennifer Roos, assistants Brandi Poole and Kevin Eckert and director of basketball operations Monique Rosati – also welcome four talented freshmen to the Falcon fold.
The fun begins with a home exhibition game vs. Findlay on Nov. 4 at "The House That Roars."
The complete 2009-10 schedule follows. For the most up-to-date schedule throughout the season, click the schedule link on the women's basketball page, or consult the Calendar of Events here at BGSUFalcons.com.
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