Achter, Honegger, Mann Named to Preseason All-MAC Team

[ZiggyZoomba]

Falcon trio to join their head coach in Cleveland for league's media gathering.

Oct. 4, 2006

CLEVELAND, Ohio (BGSUFalcons.com) - A trio of Bowling Green State University standouts have been named to the Mid-American Conference's preseason all-league women's basketball team, the league office announced Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 4). Seniors Liz Honegger and Ali Mann and junior Kate Achter have been named to the team, which is a result of voting by members of the MAC News Media Association.

"We are very excited for the program and the individual players about the preseason selections," said Falcon head coach Curt Miller. "It is a direct reflection of the success we had during the previous season. All three have worked very hard this summer and will be mainstays in our lineup again this year."

For the fifth consecutive season, the preseason all-league team consists of five student-athletes from each of the MAC's two divisions.

Mann was named to the Preseason All-MAC Team for the third consecutive season, while Honegger earned the honor for the second-straight year and Achter is a first-time honoree.

The preseason All-MAC East Division team consists of Buffalo's Heather Turner and Ohio's Rachel Frederick, in addition to Achter, Honegger and Mann.

The West Division team is comprised of Ball State's Julie DeMuth, Eastern Michigan's Patrice McKinney, Stephanie Raymond of Northern Illinois, Toledo's Danielle Bishop and Western Michigan's Carrie Moore.

Last winter, Achter, Honegger and Mann helped the Falcons to a 28-3 overall record and a MAC mark of 16-0, as BG won the league regular-season and tournament titles for the second year in a row. The Brown and Orange set school and MAC records for overall victories in a season, and became just the fifth team in conference history to finish the MAC regular-season schedule without a loss.

"Ali Mann is a great leader for our team, both on and off the court," said Miller. "Perhaps her greatest strength is her versatility. She has guard skills but plays the power forward position, giving her match-up advantages against many defenders.

"Liz Honegger is one of the best shooting centers in the country. Her ability to play both inside and outside allows our offensive system to create advantages for her teammates. She plays bigger than her height at the defensive end and anchors everything we do.

"Kate Achter is the engine that makes us go. She is a great athlete that is constantly in attack mode, and she brings an intensity and competitiveness that all teams need if they aspire to win a championship. I am happy that she is gaining credit for our recent success."

Mann earned All-MAC First-Team honors, while both Achter and Honegger were named to the all-league second team at the conclusion of last season. Mann topped the team in scoring and rebounding, with 14.6 points and 7.6 boards per game, while Honegger was right behind (13.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg). Achter had 10.9 points per game, finished third on the Falcons in rebounding (4.5 rpg) and led the Brown and Orange with 4.8 assists per game.

When MAC Tournament time rolled around, all three played key roles in the Falcons winning the title for the second consecutive March. Mann averaged a double-double, with 13.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in the Falcons' three league tourney wins, and was named the MAC Tournament MVP. Achter and Honegger joined Mann on the all-tourney team. Achter had averages of 10.0 points, 5.3 boards and 6.0 assists in the three games, while Honegger had a team-high 16.0 points per game and added 5.0 boards per contest.

Another member of the Falcons' senior class, Carin Horne, returns after being named to the All-MAC Third Team a year ago. Megan Thorburn joins Achter, Honegger, Horne and Mann to give the Falcons five returning starters from last year's team.

"Carin Horne could have been on the Preseason All-MAC Team just as easily as any of her three teammates," said Miller. "She could be our best offensive player, and without her, we never would have had the success we have enjoyed over the past few years. Carin's name is one that is often overlooked by those outside the program, but her coaches and teammates know her value, and we look for her to have a great senior year."

Honegger and Mann, along with fellow seniors Horne, Thorburn, Amber Flynn and Julie Gompers, have helped the Falcons to an overall record of 72-21 and a MAC mark of 40-8 during their first three years on campus. Since Achter and classmate Whitney Taylor joined them in BG a year later, the team has gone 51-11 overall and 29-3 in conference action. Sophomores Lindsey Goldsberry and Jasmine McCall round out the list of returnees for the Falcons, and freshmen Tara Breske, Laura Bugher and Sarah Clapper join the Brown and Orange for the 2006-07 campaign.

Achter, Honegger, Mann and Miller, along with the other members of the Preseason All-MAC Team and the rest of the league's women's basketball head coaches, will be in attendance at the conference's Basketball Media Day, which is slated for Tuesday, Oct. 24 in downtown Cleveland. Additionally, schools that did not have a player selected to the preseason all-league team will have a women's basketball student-athlete of their choosing in attendance.

BGSU will open the 2006-07 season with an exhibition game vs. Findlay at Anderson Arena on Nov. 1. The games start to count on Nov. 10 with a game at Detroit, and the regular-season home opener is Friday, Nov. 24, vs. Temple.

[jacojdm]

I couldn't be more excited for this season. I think it's going to be another great year for Coach Miller and company.

[Falconfreak90]

I couldn't be more excited for this season. I think it's going to be another great year for Coach Miller and company.

I echo those statements! This year is gonna ROCK!!!

THREE PEAT.

[Redwingtom]

I would love to see them win the MAC tourney again and actually get a seed they deserve in the tournament so they might have a chance at a W for a change.

[Peregrinner]

Well deserved accolades! Congrats to them and to the whole team.
Three-peat, anyone!?!?