Yesterday, the BGSU women’s basketball (7-7, 1-2) team fell to the Buffalo Bulls (13-1, 2-1) by a score of 80-70. This game marks the Falcons’ fifth consecutive loss to the Bulls and their first loss at the Stroh this season.
“Really good Buffalo team, just tough. They are a tough team that will impose their will on you. I think our kids played hard,” BG head coach Fred Chmiel said following the game. “I just got to do a better job of transferring our execution from practice to games.”
Bowling Green dominated the first quarter of the game. They burst out to a 13-0 lead a little less than three minutes in.
Fifth-year forward Erika Porter started the scoring 14 seconds in, and then senior guard Amy Velasco tacked on five more points quickly.
The Falcons continued to score and were able to make it 18-6 heading into the first media timeout. The final five minutes of the period saw a multitude of turnovers and missed shots, but BG still led 22-13 after one.
After the Bulls hit four free throws in a span of 90 seconds, Australia native Jasmine Fearne started the scoring party for BG in the second by hitting a three-point shot to make it 25-17.
After trading baskets, sophomore guard Paige Kohler knocked down a three to widen the Orange and Brown lead to 32-19 with 6:24 to play in the half.
Fifth-year guard Chellia Watson then buried UB’s first three to spark an 11-0 Bulls’ run. To conclude the half, freshman Johnea Donahue made a layup as time was expiring to end the Falcons’ more than six-minute scoring drought.
The third set of 10 minutes started with offensive fireworks on both sides. Fifth-year guard Lani Cornfield quickly made a layup that was followed up by a sophomore Keiryn McGuff layup.
Cornfield then scored two more from the charity stripe before Paige Kohler knocked down a triple to make it 39-34. On the next offensive possession for BG, Velasco hit one from deep as well.
With Bowling Green leading 42-36 both offenses stalled. Through the final 8:06 of the third, both teams made a combined five field goals, but BG still led 50-45.
Buffalo started off quarter number four fast, hitting three quick shots narrowing the deficit to just one. Then after trailing for the first nearly 33 minutes, Cornfield gave UB its first lead at 53-52.
From that point, the Bulls never looked back. Nearly two minutes after grasping the lead they added to it by hitting a layup and two free throws.
Velasco then hit a three to put the deficit back at one at 56-55. However, Buffalo finished the final 4:09 of regulation on a 14-5 run to close out their second conference win of the season.
Amy Velasco earned the BG Falcon Media Food and Drink Guide Player of the Game for her efforts. She scored 22 points, grasped one rebound, and recorded three assists.
BGSU now holds a record of 1-2 in Mid-American Conference play this season. Up next, the Falcons take on the Miami RedHawks (8-5, 1-2) in Oxford. Falcon Media Sports Network’s Lucas Kleimeyer and Kaden Knapp will be on the call for WBGU 88.1 FM. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.
