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BGSU’s Lexi Fleming celebrates a play during the WNIT Fab Four at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green on March 29. BGSU fell 77-70 to Columbia.
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Continued success? Breaking down Chmiel's 1st women's basketball roster at BGSU

THE BLADE/REBECCA BENSON

Continued success? Breaking down Chmiel's 1st women's basketball roster at BGSU

BOWLING GREEN — The 2023-24 version of the Bowling Green State University women’s basketball team has officially hit the hardwood together for the first time.

After analyzing film of his players since taking over as the Falcons’ coach in mid-April, Fred Chmiel had his first practice with the team on June 26. The former South Carolina assistant and his staff have high hopes and expectations for the current roster, which includes nine returning players and four talented freshmen, as BGSU seeks continued success.

“I like our roster. I think it’s a good mix of foundation that was built last year and a good influx of talented young players that have a lot of energy,” Chmiel said. “Just an incredible mix of experience that I think will mesh really well together.

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“They’re all like-minded people, they’re all high energy, they’re all about their business. So I think it’s going to be a good mix, a good bit of chemistry there.”

The Falcons will be relatively young — seven players are either freshmen or sophomores — but a handful of players who saw significant minutes during BGSU’s run to its first Women’s National Invitation Tournament semifinal last season are set to lead the way.

“I’m super excited. We have a new team, we’ve got new faces, we’ve got familiar faces,” BGSU senior guard Lexi Fleming said. “So each year, no matter what happens, your team’s going to be new. We’ve just got to put our pieces together like a puzzle and see how they all fit.”

Experienced guards among leaders

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Along with Fleming (5-foot-5), the 2020-21 Mid-American Conference freshman of the year, two other guards with starting experience will be critical to providing production and leadership on the court.

Junior Amy Velasco (5-7) and fifth-year senior Morgan Sharps (5-10) were also key components for BGSU the past two seasons.

“They know what a team looks like and they know what to do to kind of make that happen and facilitate it, so it’s been an easy transition for them and me,” Chmiel said.

Sharps has been working back from a season-ending knee injury she suffered in a Jan. 18 home win versus Toledo. She started the first 17 games of the season and averaged 10.4 points on 39.4 percent shooting from 3-point range after shooting 44.2 percent from beyond the arc the previous campaign (14 starts in 33 games).

Fleming (20 starts in 36 games) averaged 9.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game a year ago, while Velasco (five starts in 38 games) chipped in 6.4 points and just under three assists per game. Both players were among BGSU’s leading scorers when they were starters as freshmen; Fleming led the Falcons at 15.9 points per game two years ago, while Velasco was second in the 2021-22 campaign at 10.8 per outing.

Sophomores Emily Siesel (5-6), Jasmine Fearne (5-11), and Jaci Tubergen (5-11) combined to play in 35 games as freshmen.

Expanded roles for forwards

Perhaps a big challenge for Chmiel from last year at South Carolina to this year will be adjusting to the height of his team in the frontcourt.

But that doesn’t mean he’s not excited about who he has at the position.

Seniors Sophie Dziekan (6-2), Olivia Hill (6-0), and Jasmine Clerkley (5-11) have each played multiple seasons for BGSU. Dziekan is the tallest player on the roster.

Dziekan was a strong option off the bench last year, appearing in all 38 games and averaging 4.6 points (56.2 percent shooting) and 3.4 rebounds in just under 13 minutes per contest. Hill appeared in 35 games.

Compared to the 2022-23 South Carolina squad that went 36-1 en route to making an NCAA Final Four appearance, BGSU’s roster will be remarkably shorter. All seven forwards/centers for the Gamecocks were at least 6-2, and 10 of the 14 players overall were at least 6-0.

Chmiel said having the right mindset is important for post players, and he believes the group he has can be effective.

“I think we have talent, and talent always supersedes whatever height you have,” Chmiel said. “If you have a good undersized post, I’d rather have that than a 6-foot-6 dud.

“I like who we have and I like the kids that we’re bringing in. I think they provide something different than what we already had, so the blend, the mix, is what we had at South Carolina. We had a good blend and mix of post players. I think we have that as well here with the skill sets.”

Promising freshmen

BGSU has had plenty of players recently make immediate impacts as freshmen.

The four newcomers will be looking to secure a big role with the team this season.

Guards Paige Kohler (5-8) and Abbie Riddle (5-10), guard/forward Keiryn McGuff (6-0), and forward Taya Ellis (6-1) comprise the first-year group for the Falcons.

“I think we’re lucky because it’s a great freshman class,” Chmiel said. “We might be spoiled.

“These four come in and they’re very highly ranked… I think they offer a wide range of skill sets. The versatility is there. I’m excited to see them play.”

Kohler, who initially signed with Buffalo, decommitted from the school in April and recently joined BGSU. The two-time first-team all-Ohioan averaged 16 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.6 steals per game last season in leading Olmsted Falls to a Division I state runner-up finish in the school’s first trip to the OHSAA state tournament.

Riddle was a first-team all-Ohioan in Division III after averaging 18.8 points per game for Baltimore Liberty Union, while McGuff, the daughter of Ohio State women’s basketball coach Kevin McGuff, was honorable mention in Division I after averaging 12 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and one block per contest at Dublin Coffman. Ellis, a Toronto native, has “great size and athleticism” as well, according to Chmiel.

“We have some really great talent coming in and we still have people from last year,” Sharps said. “So I think we’re looking for nothing less than to elevate from last year and have the same standard. Obviously new coaches, but keeping the same mindset with everyone.”

First Published July 4, 2023, 9:59 p.m.

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BGSU’s Lexi Fleming celebrates a play during the WNIT Fab Four at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green on March 29. BGSU fell 77-70 to Columbia.  (THE BLADE/REBECCA BENSON)  Buy Image
New Bowling Green State University women's basketball coach Fred Chmiel during an introductory press conference April 10, at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green.  (THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH)  Buy Image
Bowling Green Falcons guard Morgan Sharps stops and rises into a midrange shot in a game against the Detroit Mercy Titans on Nov. 28, at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green.  (THE BLADE/ISAAC RITCHEY)  Buy Image
Bowling Green’s Amy Velasco dribbles up the court during a WNIT round of 8 women’s college basketball game between Bowling Green State University and the University of Florida at BGSU’s Stroh Center in Bowling Green on March 27.  (THE BLADE/KURT STEISS)  Buy Image
THE BLADE/REBECCA BENSON
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