MAC Quarterfinals: vs. Eastern Michigan (3/10)

[mbenecke]

On Wednesday, March 10 at 11:00am, our top-seeded Falcons (18-5, 14-4 MAC) will take on the Eastern Michigan Eagles (10-9, 7-7 MAC) in the MAC Quarterfinals at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

This is the program’s first game in Cleveland for the MAC tournament since 2015, and we’re looking for our first win in the MAC tournament since 2013 - that’s the reality of this game. Obviously, after a regular season championship, we want to win the tournament title and head to the NCAA tournament, too - but just getting to this point is an incredible accomplishment.

Last time we played EMU was the first game in our MAC season, and our Falcons won 71-64. I feel like our team has gotten a lot better since then, but you can be sure that we’ll be getting EMU’s best shot here, too.

Go Falcons - win the MAC!

[mbenecke]

The MAC has announced their regular season awards today. In addition to winning the MAC regular season championship...

Robyn Fralick named MAC Coach of the Year.

Lexi Fleming named MAC Freshman of the year, 2nd team All-MAC, and All-Freshman team.

Kadie Hempfling named 3rd team All-MAC.

Nyla Hampton named to the All-Freshman team and the All-Defensive team.

[BillyLP]

All well deserved! Excited for this team's future.

[FalconRollAlong]

18-13 lead for Eastern after the first quarter.

[FalconRollAlong]

Not shooting well at all so far. Offense is struggling quite a bit.

[BillyLP]

Also being outrebounded 23-11 so far. EMU just throwing their weight around and BG hasn't had a counterpunch yet.

[FalconRollAlong]

31-21 Eastern at the half.

[BillyLP]

Hopeful that the coaching staff makes good halftime adjustments. They have been pretty good at that all year, and realistically they are missing shots that normally go down, so hoping that the law of averages even out in the second half.

[mbenecke]

We've had good energy today, but the shots just aren't falling.

Feels like part of it could be the early start combined with the weirdness of an empty NBA arena.

[mbenecke]

About halfway through the 3rd quarter, EMU leads 35-28. BG with 2 free throws after the media timeout.

[mbenecke]

FALCONS BACK IN FRONT.

BG now leads 36-35 with 3:26 to play in the third quarter.

[mbenecke]

Fleming just hurt her shoulder. She went straight back to the locker room.

Awful, awful news - she's a piece we just have to have.

[BillyLP]

Lexie Fleming injured during a collision with one of the big bodies on EMU. Looked like a separated shoulder to me. She's back in the locker room.

[mbenecke]

End of 3, BG leads 41-37.

Have to close it here to reach the semis. I guess the good news is that tomorrow would be a potential off day to get healthy.

Finish the job! Close the deal! Let's go BG!

[mbenecke]

BG is now up 7 with 9:05 to play. Gotta keep grinding.

BG leads the 2nd half margin by a score of 23-6. From down 10 at halftime to up 7 just 11 minutes later.