Title share, as well as pride, on line for BG against UT
2/26/2005BOWLING GREEN - Every Bowling Green-Toledo matchup, regardless of the sport, puts the pride of these two rivals on the line. But today's contest between the women's basketball teams involves more than just pride.
For the Falcons, a share of the Mid-American Conference's West Division title is on the line when they host the Rockets at 1 p.m.
BG (18-7) is 11-3 in MAC play, one game better than Eastern Michigan, and a victory would clinch a share of the regular-season division crown. Currently Bowling Green also holds the tiebreaker over Marshall for the top seed in the MAC tournament.
BG's lead is a thin one, though. Should the Falcons lose one of their final two games - they play Tuesday at Northern Illinois - and finish in a tie with Eastern Michigan, the Falcons would lose the tiebreaker with the Eagles.
Today the Falcons also will honor seniors Kelly Kapferer, Tene Lewis and Sakima Smith as they play what may be the final home game.
"This is the first class, as seniors, that I've coached for four years," said BG coach Curt Miller. "I didn't recruit Kelly, Tene and Sakima, but they never played for another coaching staff.
"We have 60 wins with their group, and considering where the program was when they were recruited, they've been a big part of that."
The game won't change the Rockets' status for the tournament. Toledo will host a first-round MAC tournament game a week from today.
But UT (12-13, 8-6), which currently holds the tournament's sixth seed, can improve its position in the standings with a strong finish.
That won't be easy, since the Rockets' final game is Tuesday at Savage Hall against Eastern Michigan (20-5, 10-4).
"We've had some great practices getting ready for [this game]," Toledo coach Mark Ehlen said. "We knew we let ourselves down at Ball State. There is nothing better than coming off a bad loss and playing your arch-rivals next."
Contact John Wagner at:
jwagner@theblade.com
or 419-724-6481.