BG women prepare for Costa Rica trip

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The ventilation in Anderson Arena is almost non-existent even with the doors open at the north end.
The heat can be especially stifling in August during two-hour basketball practices.
Still, members of Bowling Green State University?s women?s basketball team have smiles on their faces as
they have 10 days of practice over the next two weeks.
That?s because the Falcons are going to Costa Rica Aug. 12-20, the first time a BG women?s basketball
team has gone on a foreign tour. The NCAA allows one foreign tour every four years.
In addition to four games, the team will make three side trips ? a hike to the volcano and a hot springs;
a white-water rafting trip and riding the zip-line through the canopy of the rain forest.
?We?’ve been excited since we found out about this trip,? BG junior Lauren Prochaska, the team?s leading
scorer in each of the last two years, said Monday. ?It?s good to get in here practicing … It?s been
really fun.?
Prochaska said she thinks about beaches, sun and the fun side trips topped off by basketball when the
conversation turns to Costa Rica.
?We?re all ready to be here and start over again,? Prochaska said. ?The majority of the team has been
here all summer, working out every morning and playing together.
?It gets a little hot in here after a couple of hours of practice, but it feels good to sweat and get in
here and run a little bit.?
Curt Miller, who is starting his ninth year as BG’?s head coach, is looking forward to the bonding
opportunities on the trip as well as the opportunity to jump-start practices for the upcoming season.

The 10 returning players from last season and the two transfers who sat out the 2008-09 season are
eligible to make the trip to Costa Rica. No incoming freshmen can make the trip. Miller will have at
least 11 healthy players with Jessica Slagle still a question mark as she undergoes rehabilitation after
knee surgery.
?It?s so weird to be in August and practicing, including two-a-days already,? Miller said. ?We?re off to
a great start and the team is in great shape.
?Jess is ahead of schedule. She looks great. She already running, jogging,? Miller added. ?She just
doesn?’t have the clearance to do a lot of lateral movement yet.?
Although no member of the coaching staff or team has ever been to Costa Rica, senior Tamika Nurse is
probably the most-traveled member of the Falcons.
A native of Hamilton, Ontario, Nurse played her first three years of college basketball at the University
of Oregon before transferring to BG to conclude her college career. As a member of the Canadian Junior
national team, Nurse has played in Cuba, Puerto Rico and Tanzania.
?I’?ve never been in a volcano, or been white-water rafting or zip-lining,? Nurse said. ?It?s something
that a lot of people don?t get to experience and it?s one of those perks after sacrificing for the
sport, you get something back.?
Although Nurse was able to practice with the team while sitting out her transfer year, now she is
practicing with a purpose ? to show Miller and his staff how she can fit into the rotation for the
upcoming season.
?These extra 10 days will really help me get a better feel of what?s going on and kind of get that
preparation to help me go from practices to games,? Nurse said.
Nurse played point-guard at Oregon after playing on the wing in high school. Junior Tracy Pontius played
the point last season for the Falcons, but there is a wing spot open with the graduation of Lindsey
Goldsberry and Slagle?s injury.
?He (Miller) said some things about playing at the one (point-guard) and on the wing,? Nurse said. ?It?s
a place (wing) I can return and something I?m excited about to get to add that versatilely to my game
and be able to help wherever I can fit in.?

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