DAYTONA, FLORIDA – If you had to choose one word to describe the game. The word rollercoaster would be it. But in the end, BGSU women’s basketball (4-4) pulled off the biggest win of the season and one of the biggest victories of the Fred Chmiel era, taking down the Arkansas Razorbacks (4-5) 79-78 in the final game of the Daytona Beach Classic.

The Razorbacks took the first quarter 24-17 after the Falcons shot 45% from the floor. It was close until Arkansas went on a 10-2 run to close out the first.

In the second quarter, Bowling Green struggled shooting, going 6-22 and 2-5 from three-point range. The Falcons managed to score 14 while Arkansas put up 19 before halftime, extending their lead to 43-31.

Sophomore guard Paige Kohler started to create some momentum for the Orange and Brown before heading into the break, scoring eight points in a near-minute time.

Fifth-year forward Erika Porter led the team in points with 12 at halftime as well. It’s one of the biggest bright spots all game long for the Falcons.

Bowling Green’s offense exploded in the third quarter, after a slow first couple of minutes, Kohler, Porter, and senior guard Amy Velasco found open looks and knocked down shots from beyond the arch.

BG shot 11 for 15 from the floor and four for five from beyond the arch, one of their most effective offensive quarters this season.

The Orange and Brown outscored Arkansas 27-14, including holding them scoreless for nearly the final two minutes of the quarter to make it just a three-point Razorback lead, 61-58.

With everything to play for in the final 10 minutes, the Falcons started the quarter with a massive three from freshman Lauren Gerken to tie the game up at 61 a piece.

In a back-and-forth quarter, with several lead changes, BG put themselves up by four with under three minutes to play via a huge three from redshirt sophomore guard Jasmine Fearne, making it 74-70 Falcons.

After a layup by Velasco, Arkansas took the lead with 14 seconds left in the game from a three by Jenna Lawerence. But with eight seconds left on the clock, Porter, as she did all game long, converted a layup in the paint to give Bowling Green their fourth victory of the season.

In the win, Kohler scored a season-high 25 points on 50% shooting and posted seven rebounds. Porter tallied 18 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double. Velasco shined again with 17 points and nine assists on the afternoon as well.

Gerken had seven points and six rebounds, while junior forward Kendal Moxey had three points, three rebounds and four assists off the bench.

For the Razorbacks, Izzy Higginbottom led the team in scoring with 26, while Lawerence recorded 21 points as well.

Bowling Green shot 47% from the floor, while Arkansas shot slightly better at 48%. But, The Orange and Brown scored 44 points in the paint, while Arkansas only managed to get 16. A huge factor that ultimately, determined the outcome of the game.

Next up for the Falcons is a matchup against the Xavier Musketeers as BG finally returns home to the Stroh Center on Saturday, Dec. 7, with tip-off set for 7:00 p.m.

Falcon Media Sports Network’s Lucas Kleimeyer and Kaden Knapp will have the call starting at 6:45 p.m. on WBGU 88.1 FM.