Let us not forget the fact that Bowling Green was the better team for 40 minutes.

Let us not forget the defensive dominance, the 28-8 run in the third quarter, a Stroh Center energized by the community.

Let us not forget a program-defining win for the orange and brown.

BGSU Women’s Basketball defeated the Memphis Tigers last night, 73-60, to advance to the Great 8 of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament on Monday, March 27.

Coming into the contest, BG was without MAC Defensive Player of the Year Nyla Hampton, who sat out due to an ankle injury.

However, you would have not known that if you watched the BG defense all night.

Bowling Green and Memphis got off to a neck-and-neck start, with BG maintaining a one point lead after the first quarter.

The Falcons ramped up the defense in the second quarter, holding Memphis scoreless for nearly the first five minutes of the quarter.

Overall in the first half, the Tigers were held to six field goals and a 21% field goal percentage, which allowed BG to take a seven point lead into halftime.

Once the third quarter began, BG caught fire.

A 28-8 run, headlined by a revived offensive performance by Elissa Brett, who ended the night with 15 points, 13 of which coming in the second half, powered the Falcons to a comfortable margin.

At one point in the early stages of the fourth quarter, the Falcon lead reached 30 points, but the Tigers refused to go away quietly.

A 29-15 fourth quarter in favor of Memphis brought the lead down to near single digits in the late stages, but free throws and timely buckets pushed BG across the finish line for the win.

However, most fans have almost forgotten all of that.

Why?

Assault.

While the two teams went through their normal postgame handshake lines, Brett was struck in the face by Jamirah Shutes of Memphis, which led to pandemonium, a cast of boos from the crowd, and a basketball team requiring a police escort out of the building.

Following the incident, BGSU Athletics released a statement:

“The incident that took place following tonight’s home WNIT game has been turned over to the BGSU Police Department. Bowling Green State University Athletics does not make comments about active police investigations. Our priority is with the health, safety and support of our student-athletes.”

No further details have been released since by BGSU Police.

Despite the postgame situation, BG still looked the part of a team worthy of a Great 8 bid.

Four different Falcons finished in double-figures (Brett, Allison Day, Lexi Fleming, Jocelyn Tate), with Day leading the way with 18 points.

With a huge crowd in attendance for the Thursday night duel, Head Coach Robyn Fralick knew that the atmosphere was set up for a program-defining moment.

“What a cool night. It was a great night for the Falcons, our fans, our community and our student section. I thought we played some really good basketball to beat a very good Memphis team. Our defensive effort was outstanding. With Nyla (Hampton) not playing tonight, we had so many different kids step up, and it was a great team win.”

Bowling Green now is set to face the Florida Gators in the Great 8 of the WNIT on Monday, 3/27, at 6 p.m. at the Stroh Center.

Brandon Loe has the call on WBGU 88.1 FM starting at 5:50. Find the link to listen on the home page of bgfalconmedia.com

For more information about the team, visit the athletics webpage.