BGSU women’s basketball (6-5) will start Mid-American Conference (MAC) play in the year 2025, taking on the defending MAC Tournament champions, the Kent State Golden Flashes (7-5).
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Kaden Knapp and Tyler Kavalecz will have the call on WBGU 88.1 FM starting at 12:45 pm for pregame, with tip-off slated for 1:00 p.m. at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center.
SERIES HISTORY
New Year’s Day marks the 101st-ever meeting between the Falcons and Golden Flashes. Bowling Green leads the all-time series with 62 wins and 38 losses.
Last season, Bowling Green lost to Kent State at the Stroh Center 82-74. That defeat snapped the Falcons’ six-straight win streak over the Golden Flashes, which began in 2020-21.
The first-ever game between the two programs occurred on Jan. 26, 1973, in Bowling Green, where the Orange and Brown beat the Golden Flashes 77-30.
BOWLING GREEN
It’s officially time for MAC play for head coach Fred Chmiel and the Falcons after an up-and-down non-conference schedule that saw Bowling Green face opponents from the SEC, Big East, Atlantic 10, Big Ten, Big 12, and Horizon League, amongst others, along with two nationally ranked opponents in West Virginia and Ohio State. The Falcons nearly saw it all with many different styles of basketball and environments.
Coming off a loss against an elite offensive team in Duquesne, the Falcons will face Kent State coming off a 10-day break. A break was needed, as Bowling Green has suffered some injuries through non-conference play, most recently freshman Lauren Gerken. Sophomore guard Taya Ellis has been out since the Daytona Beach Classic as well.
Freshman Johnea Donahue has returned to the rotation for BG, which helps significantly defensively. With the return of Keiryn McGuff as well, this team has quickly become extremely deep in multiple positions heading into MAC play. Perfecting timing.
While the second quarter against Duquesne wasn’t efficient offensively, guards Amy Velasco, Paige Kohler, and Lexi Fleming are all starting to reconnect the chemistry they had before Fleming went down last season. Fifth-year forward Erika Porter has been sensational in December, scoring 40 total points and 17 rebounds, averaging now 11.4 points per game (PPG) this season.
Wednesday will be Bowling Green’s sixth away game of the season, eight if you want to count the two ‘neutral games’ in Florida. The Falcons are 0-5 away from the Stroh Center this season. Could the Orange and Brown shock the Golden Flashes to start 1-0 in MAC play?
Wouldn’t put it past them.
KENT STATE
The Golden Flashes are coming off a 97-59 blowout victory over John Carroll, extending their impressive home record with five wins and just one loss this season.
Kent State finished third in the MAC last season, defeating the Buffalo Bulls in the MAC Tournament championship game to advance to the NCAA Tournament, where they lost in the first round to Notre Dame.
After losing three of their first four games this season, Kent State has bounced back in a big way, finishing 7-5 in non-conference play. Including a 20-point victory over Duquesne in November, a team the Falcons recently lost to.
An elite shooting team, the Golden Flashes, is shooting 43.9% from the floor and is averaging 77.6 PPG, which is the second most in the MAC, just behind Buffalo.
Offensively, they are led by Jenna Batsch, a senior guard from Loveland, Ohio, who is averaging 14.2 PPG, along with 3.5 rebounds per game (RPG), and has 12 steals on the year as well. Mya Babbitt is right behind her with 12.8 PPG and is a threat from three-point range, making 31 so far on 43.7% shooting.
Kent State was picked second in the 2024-25 MAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll for a reason: this is a proven, experienced MAC championship-contending team.
FALCON FOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH
Senior guard #1 – Amy Velasco, Bowling Green
Velasco is up to 18.1 PPG this year despite coming off an off game against Duquesne. Her leadership and efficiency on the offensive end will be crucial for BG in picking up a huge road victory.
Freshman guard #3 – Johnea Donahue, Bowling Green
Whether she’s in the starting five or coming off the bench, Donahue has been one of the most important tone-setters on defense for Bowling Green. Against an elite Kent State offense, this will be a big test for the freshman in her first MAC game of her collegiate career.
Senior guard #12 – Jenna Batsch, Kent State
Batsch is not just a scoring threat; she can also create open shots for her teammates. She had 26 assists in December, including four in the last game against John Carroll. Her impact on the box score may ultimately decide the outcome of the game for Kent State.
Senior forward #15 – Bridget Dunn, Kent State
Starting all 12 games for Kent State this season, Dunn leads the MAC in total rebounds with 127 on the season, averaging just over 10 per game. Her rim protection is important to the Golden Flashes, with 11 blocks this season.
