Women's MAC race heats up tonight at Rose Arena
The tournament has already started - at least that's how Fran Voll is approaching the final three games of the women's basketball season.
Central currently stands at 7-6 in the Mid-American Conference at 11-12 overall and is fighting for positioning in the MAC tournament.
With three games left on the schedule and the MAC stockpiled in the middle, Voll sees no room for a letdown.
"We need to finish strong. These games are tournament games for us," Voll said.
Central starts its sprint to the finish tonight with a 7 p.m. home game versus Bowling Green at Rose Arena.
CMU will be looking into a mirror image of themselves as it sees BGSU coming in with the same scenario.
The Falcons come in with an identical record as they are also 7-6 in the conference and 11-12 in the overall and have come on strong lately winning five of their last seven.
BGSU, which suffered 67-56 loss to Western Michigan this past Saturday, is led by an average-sized center with above average skills in Jacki Raterman.
Raterman is averaging 21.0 points per game and 8.0 rebounds per game and will give CMU problems.
A combination of CMU players will be used to shut her down, but Vershaun Jones seems like the obvious pick to receive the most work as she has been called upon to shut down the opposition's top player in most cases this season.
Jones along with Alicia Rozak, Rory Wendt, Amanda Winner and point guards Molli Munz and Rochelle Germany are all freshmen, who according to Voll must no longer play like freshmen but instead as seasoned veterans.
"The freshmen are no longer the same freshmen when the season started. Their game should be more confident and more seasoned and more adjusted (now)," Voll said.
Leading the way for the Chippewas, Voll expects to be his big three of Sally Sedlar, Joni Daniels and Shelly Woods.
Sedlar, who is averaging 13.2 ppg and 4.1 apg, should continue to make her bid for an all-MAC selection while Daniels and Woods will have to provide a scoring balance from the post area.
"We've had a strong MAC performance by Sally. When we play well we have balance," Voll said.
Deane Knoblauch, who is in her first season as BG's head coach, will look to counter the Chippewas with balance of her own.
Players like Sherry Kahle (10.7 ppg), Francine Miller (9.9 ppg) and Jill DeForse (7.8 ppg) will have to back Raterman.
Consistency is a top priority for the rest of the season for CMU.
"Good teams play good game in and game out. Good teams rise to the occasion. You can't shoot well every game but you have to find ways to win," Voll said.
