There are some games during the year that you just have circled on your calendar at the start of the season; this matchup against the Buffalo Bulls (12-1, 1-1) on Wednesday for Bowling Green (7-6, 1-1) is certainly one of those games.
The Falcons will look to get some revenge on the Bulls after Buffalo defeated Bowling Green in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament quarterfinals 70-64, and now more importantly try to earn their second MAC win of the season.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Lucas Kleimeyer and Kaden Knapp will have the call on WBGU 88.1 FM starting at 6:45 for pregame, with tip-off set for 7:00 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
This game will be the 54th all-time matchup between the Falcons and the Bulls. Their first-ever matchup was in 1997 in Orlando, Florida, where the Orange and Brown defeated Buffalo 74-54.
Last season, these two programs met three times, which saw Buffalo win all three against Bowling Green.
BOWLING GREEN
Coming off a big win against Eastern Michigan, a victory where all five starters reached double digits in scoring, Bowling Green will look to keep their momentum going on offense heading into this big match against Buffalo.
The Orange and Brown remain unbeaten at the Stroh Center this season with a 5-0 record. To stay perfect at home, the Falcons are going to need a complete performance. Plain and simple.
Limiting star guard Chellia Watson and winning the rebound will both be key, along with capitalizing on turnovers. The Bulls have committed 186 turnovers on the year; that’s second-best in the MAC. In Buffalo’s loss to Kent State, their only defeat of the season, they had just 11 turnovers.
Bowling Green will have to take care of the basketball as well. Buffalo causes more turnovers than anyone else in the MAC, with 300 on the year.
So who needs to have a big game for BG? The short answer is the whole team. But fifth-year forward Erika Porter will need to have another big night in the paint, and the Falcons will need a big shooting performance from Amy Velasco and Paige Kohler.
Defensively, freshman Johnea Donahue may have the biggest test of her young collegiate career against this Buffalo offense. The energy, leadership, and play from fifth-year Lexi Fleming are crucial for the Falcons too. Keiryn McGuff’s defensive rebounding ability could also be very big for the Falcons against the Bulls.
If the Orange and Brown can put it all together, this could be their biggest win of the season.
BUFFALO
The Bulls come into this one having won their first 12 games of the season. They are coming off their first defeat of the year against Kent State, the team that beat them in the 2024 MAC Tournament championship game.
Buffalo is elite on both ends of the floor. They are currently first in the MAC in scoring, averaging 79.6 points per game (PPG), and second in the conference in defense, only allowing 57.2 PPG.
While UB has made the least amount of three-pointers in the MAC thus far, they defend the three-ball extremely well, holding opponents to 25.9% shooting beyond the arc, which is tied for best in the conference.
Led by Watson, who is averaging 19.6 PPG this season, in her three games against Bowling Green last season, she scored 36, 20, and 24 points against the Falcons.
One of the other returning starters from last season, sophomore guard Kirsten Lewis-Williams, is averaging 13.8 PPG and also 5.8 rebounds per game (RPG).
Kent State was easily the toughest team Buffalo faced this season, but coming off a loss, head coach Becky Burke will have this Bulls team ready to go against the Falcons.
FALCON FOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sophomore guard – #10 Paige Kohler, Bowling Green
Kohler has scored double digits in four straight contests for the Orange and Brown, along with 16 assists. Her efficiency on offense in all areas of the floor will be key for Bowling Green.
Fifth-year forward – #32 Erika Porter, Bowling Green
Coming off a 22-point performance against Eastern Michigan, Porter’s role in scoring and rebounding against the Bulls is going to be very important and is an area where the Falcons can dominate.
Fifth-year guard – #35 Chellia Watson, Buffalo
A Preseason All-MAC First Team selection, Watson is one of the most lethal players in the MAC, especially with her scoring ability. Her impact on the box score could ultimately decide the outcome of the game.
Sophomore – guard/forward #23 Alexis Davis, Buffalo
Davis is another starter returning from last year and leads the team in total rebounds with 97 this year, 56 of them being defensive. She will need to have a big game on the boards for the Bulls for them to secure a victory.
