CLEVELAND -- After 364 days redemption had finally come.

On March 13, 2009 BG fell to an underdog Ball State 55-51, failing to win the Mid-American Conference title and missing the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season.

During that loss to Ball State, Lauren Prochaska and Tara Breske failed to live up to their expectations and didn't deliver the effort that had led the Falcons to a dominant regular season.
 
"The player of the year in the conference lost her confidence," BG coach Curt Miller said after the loss. "Our center and captain lost her confidence."

All that lost confidence was erased from memory as Prochaska launched the ball into the air with one second remaining on Saturday, and once it landed on the floor of Quickens Loan Arena the new MAC Tournament MVP was already swarmed by her teammates.

Redemption had come in the form of a 62-53 victory, and it couldn't have been sweeter.

SHOOTER: BG's Tara Breske shoots over two Toledo defenders during the Mid-American
Conference championship game at Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday. (Enoch Wu)

CLEVELAND -- Senior center Tara Breske wanted nothing more from this season than to play in the NCAA Tournament.

Her wish was granted on Saturday when the Falcons beat Toledo 62-53 to win the Mid-American Conference championship and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, writing the best possible ending to her MAC career.

"I don't think I could [write a better ending] actually," Breske said. "We came out here, did what we needed to do and came away with a championship."

Breske scored six points and grabbed nine rebounds in BG's win, but a stretch of play as the first half came to a close defined her role on the team as a leader.

With 1:34 left in the first half, Breske made a jumper that gave the Falcons their first go-ahead score of the game. Even though she failed to convert on the 3-point play, that basket brought the Falcon bench and fans to their feet.

BG coach Curt Miller waves to fans and his team after cutting down the second net in Quicken
Loans Arena after winning the MAC championship by beating Toledo 62-53. (Enoch Wu)
Postgame audio from coach Curt Miller, Tournament MVP Lauren Prochaska and senior Tara Breske: MAC_Championship_Falcons_Postgame.wav
 
CLEVELAND -- The BG women's basketball team is going dancing.

The Falcons have punched their ticket to the Big Dance, receiving the automatic bid to this year's NCAA Tournament after defeating arch-rival Toledo 62-53 for the Mid-American Conference championship Saturday afternoon at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

"We can't express how excited we are," BG coach Curt Miller said. "What an unbelievable feeling. It's just a great finish to MAC play for us this year."

The Falcons were led by Lauren Prochaska, who had a game-high 29 points and grabbed seven rebounds en route to being named player of the game and tournament MVP.

BG started the game sluggish and the Rockets were clicking on all cylinders, jumping out to a 22-12 advantage at the 8:19 mark. The Falcons would dominate down the stretch of the first half, however, going on a 17-2 run to take a 29-24 lead into the break.

Prochaska scored 12 first-half points, essentially setting the tone for an offense that struggled early on.

"We were down big early and I think nerves got to us," Prochaska said. "We were a little impatient and weren't running our offenses, [but] as we settled down we were able to execute our plays better and get the shots that we wanted to get."

UPDATE: 4:33 p.m.

Junior Lauren Prochaska was named MVP of the 2010 Mid-American Conference Tournament, and senior center Tara Breske was named to the All-Tournament team.

The two-time MAC Player of the Year scored 61 points in BG's three games at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, and she led the Falcons with 29 points in the title game against Toledo, a 62-53 Falcon win.

Historically, Prochaska has struggled in the MAC Tournament so being able to put it all together made the award more meaningful.

The Falcons will play in the NCAA Tournament against a team and at a date to be announced later.

All-Tournament Team
*Jamilah Humes, Kent State
*Tanika Mays, Toledo
*Naama Shafir, Toledo
*Tara Breske, BG
*Lauren Prochaska, BG

MVP
*Lauren Prochaska, BG

The Falcon women's basketball team won the 2010 Mid-American Conference championship Saturday afternoon.

BG beat Toledo 62-53 in a tense, back-and-forth battle at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

The Falcons earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, and their opponent will be announced in the next few days.

Lauren Prochaska led the Falcons with 29 points and seven rebounds in the game.

Much more on this game will come throughout the day.

LAST UPDATE: Saturday, March 13, at 10:22 p.m.

What's next for the Falcons

*Next women's game: NCAA First-Round action, TBA
*Next men's game: Eliminated by No. 7 Western Michigan in first-round action

Brackets

The Falcons bench celebrates after the team earned a spot in the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game. (Christina McGinnis)
CLEVELAND -- The Falcon women's basketball team will look to win a Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game Saturday afternoon.

After having lost the past two title games, top-seed BG will face second-seeded Toledo - which defeated the Falcons 66-63 in their only regular season matchup this season - at 1 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland

"We've been here before. We've won three MAC championships, but we're also lost in three MAC championships," said BG coach Curt Miller. "We've got to win this thing to go (to the NCAA Tournament), so we're looking forward to the matchup.

"I think we're the most consistent team and over the course of a long year our preparation and our approach to each and every game handling the bull's-eye allowed us to be the MAC (regular-season) champion. I believe they (Toledo) are the most talented team. They have weapons in every position and they have a lot of mismatch opportunities against us.

"I don't know if we have to play our 'A' game, but we better play 'B-plus' in order to beat Toledo."

CLEVELAND -- A 9-of-17 effort from 3-point range against Akron Friday afternoon was the most recent display of the Falcon women's basketball team's ability to connect on long-distance shots.

After making 13-of-20 3-pointers against Miami during the quarterfinals on Wednesday, the top-seeded Falcons continued to find their shot against fourth-seeded Akron during an 81-49 semifinals win.

Senior point guard Tamika Nurse, who contributed one 3-pointer against Akron and four against Miami, said the team always tries to knock down those shots in any game.

"We pride ourselves on trying to be a good 3-point shooting team," Nurse said. "It really helps us have a balanced attack."

On the season, seven players have made at least 10 3-pointers and six players made an attempt against each Miami and Akron.