On Saturday, Nov. 16 the Falcons (1-2) return home for the first time in 12 days to battle St Bonaventure (1-1) at noon. This game comes after two consecutive losses for BG.
“We’re excited to play at the Stroh again,” senior guard Amy Velasco mused. “We need to get better in these next couple of practices we have before Saturday and just continue to work hard.”
The Falcons and the Bonnies have met up eight times before with the last meeting coming on Nov. 7, 2022. BG was victorious in that matchup 77-61. The last time SBU visited the Stroh was in 2013, another game that Bowling Green won.
You can catch the game on WBGU 88.1 FM. Falcon Media Sports Network’s Lucas Kleimeyer and Kaden Knapp will be on the call.
BOWLING GREEN
On a positive note, for the Orange and Brown, Amy Velasco has scored 20 and 28 in her last two games. She also played in the entirety of both games.
However, as a team, the Falcons have seen a drop in shooting percentage. As a team, they have shot .376 whereas their opponents are .435 from the floor. Against CSU, they outshot the Vikings 0.435 to 0.364 in the first half but were outshot 0.353 to 0.278.
Against all three opponents so far BGSU has been excellent in the first half and held a decent lead; however, the Falcon’s low second-half shooting percentage and a significant decrease in scoring have allowed teams to make games close.
To defeat St Bonaventure, they will need to higher their shooting percentage, stay consistent through both halves, and continue protecting the basketball.
ST BONAVENTURE
The Bonnies started the season with an 82-61 win over Binghamton. St Bonaventure shot over 50 percent from the floor and beyond the arc in that game. On the flip side, in the 60-52 loss to Youngstown State, they shot 28 percent from the floor and 31 percent from three-point land.
St. Bonaventure also had four double-digit scorers in the season opener, but that number was cut in half to follow.
Much like the Falcons, if St Bonaventure wants to defeat Bowling Green, they will need to hit their shots and distribute their scoring. They find themselves in trouble when they are forcing up shots and forcing the ball on key players.
FALCON FOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sophomore guard #10 Paige Kohler, Bowling Green
Kohler was lights out to start the game against Cleveland State. She knocked down three of her first four three-pointers and finished the opening half with 12 points helping the Falcons to a 42-32 lead. Her second-half struggles were attributed to the loss. She finished with 15 total points and 31 percent from the floor, making one of her final eight shots. If she can carry her first-half success into the second half, this team will be very dangerous.
Sophomore forward #11 Taya Ellis, Bowling Green
The Toronto native finally picked up a double-double after being one point away in games one and two. She had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Her gameplay was almost the opposite of Kohler’s. She started the game one of eight from the floor but finished two of six and four of four from the free throw line. If she can be consistent in her gameplay, she will be fantastic.
Senior guard #22 Dani Haskell, St Bonaventure
Haskell has been St Bonaventure’s ‘X-Factor’ through their first two games. She averages 18 points per game so far and is 50 percent from the floor. Against Youngstown State, she totaled 24 points and seven rebounds.
Freshman guard #1 Mackenzie Pettinelli, St Bonaventure
Pettinelli is second on the Bonnies in points. She was very good in the win against Binghamton, scoring 14 points, missing one shot, and hauling in six rebounds. Against Youngstown State, she held to seven points and went one of six from the floor. Basketball is a team sport; it is pivotal that SBU’s number two has a good game if they want to defeat BG.
