The Bowling Green women’s basketball team dropped their season opener to No. 9 Ohio State in the first round of the preseason Women’s National Invitational Tournament this past weekend in Columbus.
The women started the game out strong, but the Buckeyes had too much fire power and won the game, 89-41.
The Falcons were actually beating the Buckeyes, whom BG head coach Curt Miller considers a strong contender to win the national title this season. After six minutes of play the Falcons were leading, 14-8.
“There was a stretch during the first six minutes where we played with them, if not outplayed them,” Miller said.
The Falcons’ main problem in the game was containing Ohio State center Jessica Davenport, whom finished the game with 17 points, five rebounds and three blocks.
“We rolled the dice and played a sagging man defense,” Miller said. “But then they made 13 threes.”
Ohio State’s Ashley Allen was the major benefactor of the Falcons’ gameplan to stop Davenport. She came off the bench to hit five of six three-pointers and collected 17 points and five boards. Forward Caity Matter, whom Miller said is one of the top shooters in the nation, was the only other Buckeye to score in double figures. She hit two of her four threes and scored 12 points.
The Buckeyes shot a surprising 65 percent from down town after hitting just three of 16 from beyond the arc against the Australian Institute of Sport in an exhibition game.
“You can always second guess yourself,” Miller said. “I like what we did to Davenport.”
For the Falcons, no players scored in double figures. Casey McDowell and Megan Thorburn each scored nine points as the team shot just 36 percent from the floor.
It was a bad day for the Falcons, but one Miller said he doesn’t regret going through.
“I still don’t go back on my statement that it was a win-win game,” he said. “Our name is being thrown around the nation. Even though it was a large loss and a disappointing loss, it is still just one loss.”
The Buckeyes continued to roll yesterday in a 76-29 win over St. Joseph’s, a team that is picked to finish second in the Atlantic 10 this season. A game like that makes the Falcons’ recovery from the game that much easier.
“I think [the players] are over it already,” Miller said. “Our mindset is already to IPFW. There’s definitely a feeling that we can’t wait to get back on the court Friday.”
