The BGSU women’s basketball (11-10, 5-5 MAC) team took on the Central Michigan Chippewas on the road Saturday in a huge clash in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

The Falcons scored a huge 76-69 win on the road over CMU, coming back from being down 12 with eight minutes left in the third quarter.

This win makes the Orange and Brown 11-10 overall with a conference record of 5-5, while the Chippewas fall to 8-13 and 4-6 in MAC play.

Here’s how the game went down:

First Quarter:

Coming out of the first media timeout of the game, senior guard Amy Velasco made her first two free throws of the contest to put the Falcons up 11-8. 

The Chippewas took the lead from the Falcons at 15-13 with 2:30 left in the first period. Both teams clicked offensively at the end of the quarter.

CMU freshman guard Madi Morson got off to a fast start with nine quick points on 4-5 shooting in the first quarter. The Chippewas were up by two 23-21 over the Falcons. 

Second Quarter: 

BG freshman guard Johnea Donahue played incredibly well with seven early points, but the Falcons struggled at the beginning of the second quarter on the offensive side of the floor.

With five minutes to go in the half, heading into a media timeout, CMU led Bowling Green 32-26.

Central Michigan stayed up in the game with consistent great offensive play, and they went up 40-31 with a minute to go in the half.

The Falcons closed out the half with down ten to the Chippewas 42-32.  CMU senior guard Jess Lawson was playing phenomenal offensively, with 16 first-half points.

Third Quarter:

The Orange and Brown began mounting a comeback in the third with a 7-0 run, but the Chippewas kept them in the rearview, holding a 49-45 lead with five minutes remaining.

Morson hit two clutch threes in a row to stop the BG run and put the Chippewas up by seven.  However, Donahue quickly responded with a bucket and a foul, getting the Falcons back to within four. 

Both teams began trading baskets and fouls, with the Chippewas coming away from the quarter on top again 60-56.

Fourth Quarter:

Bowling Green managed to fight their way back and tie up the game at 62 with great responses to the Chippewas plays.

The Falcons then took the lead, keeping it until the media timeout.  They led 66-63 with under five minutes left in the game.

After losing the lead, BG sophomore forward Keiryn McGuff made two clutch shots from the free throw line that put the Falcons back in front 68-67. 

Then with 40 seconds left, sophomore guard Paige Kohler, with ice in her veins, hits a tough three to put the Falcons up by four, a lead that they did not lose sight of. 

BG took the dub 76-69 against Central Michigan.  The Falcons have beaten the Chippewas five straight times with this win.

All five Bowling Green starters were in double figures to help their squad get the win, and that level of scoring is the largest reason why the Falcons were able to complete a 12-point second-half comeback. 

The BG player of the game was Donahue in this one.  The freshman guard had a career-high 12 points on 4-5 shooting to go with a team-leading five boards, five assists, and two steals.  All in 29 minutes on the floor. 

Next on the schedule for the Falcons is the Ball State Cardinals (18-4, 10-0 MAC), who are undefeated in conference play and on a 12-game win streak. 

The Falcons will look to carry the momentum from this win to contend against the number one team in the MAC on Wednesday, Jan. 5 on the Cardinal’s home court of Worthen Arena in Muncie, Indiana.