Numerous things went wrong for BGSU women’s basketball in their 96-53 loss to No. 12 Ohio State on Sunday.
However, none may have been more impactful than turnovers, which plagued the Orange and Brown from the opening tip to the final whistle.
Bowling Green turned the ball over a staggering 24 times, 17 of which came in the first half.
Six different Falcons committed multiple turnovers, with senior guard Amy Velasco turning the ball over a game and season-high eight times.
The Buckeyes fully capitalized on Bowling Green’s mistakes, scoring 30 points off turnovers.
On the other side, Ohio State gave the ball away just six times in 40 minutes, with BGSU scoring just two points off those six mistakes.
Turnovers have been a problem for BG all season, especially over the past few games.
They have turned the ball over less than 10 times just once this season, when they finished with nine in their blowout victory over St. Bonaventure on Nov. 16.
The Falcons opened the season with 24 turnovers against Southern Miss on Nov. 4.
They have turned the ball over at least 20 times in three games this season, committing a season-high 27 in their loss to West Virginia on Tuesday.
BGSU head coach Fred Chmiel attributes the recent ball control struggles to the defenses they have faced.
“Two top-15 teams that press the hell out of you for 40 minutes, that’s probably it,” Chmiel said.
However, Chmiel believes facing defenses like those of West Virginia and Ohio State will help them in the long run.
“It’s good experience. We’re going to see some of that zone pressing in the MAC, and it won’t look as good as that,” Chmiel said. “I’m glad that we’re seeing it now and preparing ourselves for the MAC season and that’s what it’s all about.”
Next, the Falcons will head to Daytona Beach, Florida, for the Daytona Beach Classic. They will battle Stetson on Friday, Nov. 29, and Arkansas on Saturday, Nov. 30, with both games starting at 1:15 p.m.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Kaden Knapp will have the call for both matchups on WBGU 88.1 FM.
