Long limited by BG’s Prochaska in loss

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CLEVELAND — Perhaps Shonda Long was too successful during the Mid-American Conference quarterfinals Wednesday against Buffalo.

The Central Michigan senior scored 40 points against the Bulls. But early on in the MAC women’s basketball semifinals against Bowling Green, it was apparent the Falcons did their scouting.

Long finished just 2-of-9 from the field Friday in CMU’s 80-72 loss at Quicken Loans Arena. She finished with just six points.

“I was at the (quarterfinal) game, and watched her score 40,” said BGSU senior Lauren Prochaska, the two-time defending MAC Player of the Year. “I knew that was going to be who I was guarding.”

Prochaska averages 17.9 points per game for the Falcons, but she used a little known facet of her game to do the most damage Thursday.

Prochaska smothered Long with her defense, giving the CMU guard little time or space to make an impact.

“Every single player you put Laura Prochaska on, they don’t get to their average,” said BGSU head coach Curt Miller. “There’s a player that absolutely was ridiculously good in the quarterfinal, and Lauren, once again, does what she does on star players.”

At 5-foot-11, Prochaska has two inches on the 5-foot-9 Long. Miller credited his guard’s length and smarts in her defensive performance.

“I think she’s the best defensive guard in the league, and gets no credit for it,” he said.

The biggest area Long struggled in was from beyond the 3-point line. In Wednesday’s quarterfinal against Buffalo, Long tied a MAC tournament record with seven 3s. Prochaska, always with a hand in Long’s face, held Long to just one 3-point attempt — a miss.

And she didn’t worry about Long driving to the basket, either.

“I had a lot of help when she went back door when she drove on me,” Prochaska said.

CMU head coach Sue Guevara said she expected this kind of attention toward Long.

“After somebody scores 40 points, you know they’re going to be all up in your grill,” she said.