2021-22 (mostly 22) season thread

[Hockey John]

I got that...I think it's a shame Brett is hurt at all. She's maybe the most versatile player on the team

If you all remember, Elissa Brett took a hard fall in last Monday's game. Her absence is related to that fall.

[threestooges]

It's too bad, b/c she (Brett) really could have helped in the Ohio game on Saturday. She is one of the team's best defenders and has a level of toughness that not a lot of players have. I don't know if we would have won with her in the lineup, but it certainly would have helped the cause.

That having been said, last night's win at KSU was impressive. Hampton had a tremendous game, and Lewis played really well, too. Parker hit some key three-pointers, and they got some inspired play from kids off the bench like Sophie Dziekan. It was kind of interesting that they picked up that win without Brett, and with Hempfling playing only 15 minutes.

With so many teams bunched together in the standings, tomorrow's game vs. Akron is a big one. I'd like to think a 2-2 finish gets us into the MAC Tournament (we'd be 10-10 if we can get 2 more wins), and a win tomorrow would go a long way toward helping our tourney chances.

[fredthefalcon]

How about Zoe Miller. Did not play the prior game and I couldn't find her on the bench on TV vs Kent.

[threestooges]

Good win at Miami on Saturday. Maybe not the most complete performance of the season, but they gutted out a win at a time when they absolutely needed to gut out a win. Velasco was huge down the stretch, making a bunch of free throws, and she scored 19 while Hempfling had 18. Brett was back and scored 12, and Parker hit a couple of big 3's. The biggest play in my mind came at the end of the third quarter. Hampton made a couple of FT's with about 5 seconds left, and Jocelyn Tate then stole the inbounds pass and made a contested layup at the buzzer. That gave BG a 7-0 run to end the quarter, and BG extended the lead at the start of the fourth. Miami made it a one-possession game late, but Velasco hit her FT's to keep BG in front.

Wednesday's game vs. KSU is huge. I haven't looked at everyone else's schedules etc., but KSU is one of the teams currently tied with BG for sixth place. A win would put BG a game ahead of KSU, and BG would hold the tiebreaker. I have to think BG would be sitting in a great position to earn one of the top eight spots and a trip to Cleveland.

It would also be nice to get a win over KSU because the final game is on the road at second-place Buffalo, and they definitely don't want to go into Saturday in a win-or-go-home situation.

[Flipper]

Dziekan was a force with 8 rebounds in only 10 minutes of action...she also went 5-6 from the line. We need her to build on that going forward

[mbenecke]

BG beats Kent State tonight, 69-60.

That was a massive win that catapulted us from 9th to 5th in the MAC. Huge ramifications. Here’s hoping we finish strong and find our way to Cleveland for next week!

[BillyLP]

BG beats Kent State tonight, 69-60.

That was a massive win that catapulted us from 9th to 5th in the MAC. Huge ramifications. Here’s hoping we finish strong and find our way to Cleveland for next week!

Tonight’s win guaranteed them a spot in Cleveland. Great win against a tough team!

[threestooges]

Final regular season game today, at Buffalo. UB is always a really tough, physical team. I think they are locked into second place, so they don't have anything to play for, seeding-wise. But, it's their senior day so I'm sure they'll be fired up to play.

As for BG, there's a chance to finish as high as fourth (with a win and some upsets in other games), or as low as eighth). I personally would like to see us get to sixth if possible, because that would mean a first round game vs. Akron. Even though we lost to them twice in the regular season, I think Akron is beatable. I definitely don't like our chances against the Rockets, which is who we'd face if we finish eighth, and I would rather not finish seventh and play UB for a second game in a row. But, even if we lose today, I think there's a realistic chance for sixth if Kent State can take care of Ohio at home.

[BillyLP]

Final regular season game today, at Buffalo. UB is always a really tough, physical team. I think they are locked into second place, so they don't have anything to play for, seeding-wise. But, it's their senior day so I'm sure they'll be fired up to play.

As for BG, there's a chance to finish as high as fourth (with a win and some upsets in other games), or as low as eighth). I personally would like to see us get to sixth if possible, because that would mean a first round game vs. Akron. Even though we lost to them twice in the regular season, I think Akron is beatable. I definitely don't like our chances against the Rockets, which is who we'd face if we finish eighth, and I would rather not finish seventh and play UB for a second game in a row. But, even if we lose today, I think there's a realistic chance for sixth if Kent State can take care of Ohio at home.

Press and double team Fair the whole game. That’s the only way to have a shot against them without Fleming on the court.

[fredthefalcon]

Madisen Parker hits a 3 as first half ends. Tie score at 35.

[fredthefalcon]

Big 3rd qtr for Buffalo and they lead by 16. Freshman Hemphill for Bulls 10-11 from the line for 19 points. Fair only has 2 but Bulls own the boards against BG's undersized team.

[factman]

wbbblog.com reporting Zoe Miller is in the transfer portal

[fredthefalcon]

wbbblog.com reporting Zoe Miller is in the transfer portal

Disappointing. She was Division III Player of the Year at Berlin, a perennial champ. Listed as our top recruit but has been outshined by Velasco and also Tate. Not a great rebounder, a little slow, but good footwork around the basket. Supposedly our second tallest player and had some bulk which is a need for this team that sorely misses a big or two.

[elmrfudd]

Well, another season comes to a close for the Falcons, after taking another one on the chin from Akron in the MAC tournament. They hung tough in the first half, but seemed to run out of gas in the second. It appears that most MAC teams have several really good post players except BG. Until Coach Fralick lands a couple of really good bigs inside, they will continue to struggle in the paint. From everything I’ve seen this season, the Falcons have several good players, even with Fleming on the bench with injury. The problem is this…..the Falcons, as deep as they were all season, lacked basic basketball fundamentals. I saw that Amy Velasco, as a freshman, was the most fundamentally sound player on the roster. She seems to be the best on the team at getting to the basket, shooting over the trees and either finishing the shot or drawing contact. The rest of the team, when getting inside within five feet of the basket, either get their shots blocked or they throw up a prayer without looking at the hoop, fortunate to even draw iron. The Falcons are extremely vulnerable at defending the arc and the paint. The Falcons, back in the day, when they dominated the conference, imposed their will on everyone. They did this because Curt Miller commanded excellence, then developed it. They became good enough fundamentally so that imposing their will on their opponents had become second nature. Coach Fralick must recruit two or three really good post players who can block shots, defend the paint, rebound, and be a dominant scorer inside. Every game I saw the same thing….. bad passes, forced shots, uncontrollable moves inside bowling over defensive players, missed layups galore, giving up uncontested layups and threes, and committing fouls on opponents’ layups without getting a piece of the ball, usually resulting in 3-point plays. This team has succumbed to their opponent’s will all season long. Granted, they’ve had some great games against the lower and mid-grade teams in the MAC, but falter at the hands of Toledo, Buffalo, and Akron. Until the Falcon coaches can streamline and fine-tune these players into a fundamentally sound, well-oiled machine, on both sides of the ball, they will continue to hover somewhere in the middle of the conference at the end of every season. I’ve watched this team all season long, and my eyes see what they see. I’m calling it like I see it. Anyone reading this can disagree if they like, but the great thing about this blog is the freedom to express our opinions. I’m still pulling for Coach Fralick and the players and still wish them all the best for a successful season next year! GO FALCONS!!!