After a tough loss against Ball State, BGSU women’s basketball (11-11, 5-6) will be back in action against the Arkansas State Red Wolves (15-7, 11-1) in the annual MAC-Sun Belt Challenge.
BG enters the game at 11-11, while the Red Wolves come in with a red-hot record of 15-7.
The Orange and Brown sit at seventh in the MAC, while the red-hot Red Wolves team sits comfortably at second in the Sun Belt.
SERIES HISTORY
The series history does not apply, as these two teams have never faced off before. Each team will be looking to claim a win in their inaugural meeting.
BOWLING GREEN
The Falcons are 2-2 in their last four games and suffered a 20-point loss against top-ranked Ball State on Wednesday. Entering a non-conference game, they are poised with a great opportunity to regain momentum and earn a road win.
BG played tough in the second half of Wednesday’s game, nearly matching Ball State’s point total (31 to 32). The Falcons won the turnover battle (three less than Ball State) but notched only 11 second-chance points. Paige Kohler and Lexi Fleming combined for 29, while Erika Porter led the team with six rebounds.
Going into non-MAC action against a team with which they are unfamiliar, the Orange and Brown will look to increase their production on second-chance baskets and off the bench while controlling the game through all four quarters.
ARKANSAS STATE
Ark State has looked dominant in Sun Belt play, going 11-1 in the conference and 10-1 at home. Facing BG in Jonesboro, they have a considerable home-court advantage and will look to extend their 11-game win streak.
The Red Wolves have scored 80-plus points in their past four games, and their scoring margin of 8.1 vastly exceeds BG’s margin of 0.7.
In their recent smothering of Georgia State, stars Zyion Shannon and Shaunae Brown combined for 25, and the Wolves tallied 41 off the bench. They will look to represent the Sun Belt, a conference they are well-poised to win, as they host the visiting Falcons.
FALCON FOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH
Junior guard – #21 Zyion Shannon, Arkansas State
Shannon leads the Red Wolves with 242 points on the season and has been shooting 42% from the field. A short but athletic guard, Shannon may be hard to stop, especially from beyond the arc (where she scores on 37% of her attempts). To beat the Red Wolves, BG will need to pump the brakes on Shannon’s offensive production.
Senior guard – Kennedie Montue, Arkansas State
Though a bench player, Montue has logged 214 points for the Wolves this season and logged nine rebounds against Georgia State. The Falcons should expect her to be aggressive in the paint and to go for second-chance buckets. This Ark State team has depth, and Montue is the scoring heart of the Red Wolves bench.
Senior guard – #1 Amy Velasco, Bowling Green
Velasco never left the court against Ball State Wednesday, finishing with 13 points and three rebounds. BG will need Velasco’s athleticism and shooting ability to match the Red Wolves and will need to activate her ability as a passer to ensure she logs more assists on Saturday (she posted one against the Cardinals). Overall, she is an integral part of the Falcon offense, and getting her started early will be essential to victory.
Fifth-year guard – #23 Lexi Fleming, Bowling Green
The leader of the team, Fleming, is an essential aspect of the Falcon backcourt. The Cincinnati native logged 14-3-5 against the Cards and played 37 minutes, shooting 40% from the field. If she can connect on more of her three-point shots (having connected only two of eight against Ball State), she could help put the Red Wolves in the troubling position.
