For their third game of the season, BGSU women’s basketball (1-1) will remain on the road, traveling northwest to battle against the Wisconsin Badgers (2-1) on Wednesday night at the Kohl Center.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Lucas Kleimeyer, Andrew Helkowski, and Ben Corak will begin the evening’s coverage at 7:05 p.m., and Adam Duffin will be calling the game starting at 7:30 p.m. at Kohl Center.
Matchup History
Bowling Green and Wisconsin have matched up against each other twice throughout both programs’ respective histories. The all-time series is knotted up at one apiece, with the last meeting occurring on Nov. 15, 1998, as the Badgers came away victorious, winning 87-69.
Having said that, both contests have occurred in Wisconsin, with neither having taken place in the Stroh Center.
Bowling Green
The Orange and Brown are coming off a week where they split their first two games of the season, beating the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 82-67 Monday night, and losing to the No. 2-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks 114-47 last Friday.
Head coach Fred Chmiel has kept his starting five consistent for the most part to begin the season. The only switch came during game two on Friday night, as sophomore forward Lauren Gerken was promoted to the starting five coming off her first career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds against Louisiana.
Besides that minor adjustment, BG’s starting lineup has included junior guard Paige Kohler, sophomore guard Johnea Donahue, freshman guard Ky’Aira Miller, and junior forward Taya Ellis.
As a reserve, Joniyah Bland-Fitzpatrick led BGSU in total points scored against the Gamecocks with 10, Donahue totaled nine points, and Kohler scored seven points.
By and large, Bowling Green labored to create their own offense, shooting 24.3% from the floor, while making 18-74 shots. In addition to their offensive woes, the Falcons could not slow down South Carolina’s high-powered offense as they shot 63.6% from the hardwood, making 42 shots from 66 attempts.
Despite the Orange and Brown’s offensive struggles, as a team, they led the Gamecocks in total steals. BG totaled 11, whereas South Carolina had nine. Donahue led the way for Bowling Green as she possessed five of their 11 steals.
Wisconsin
It’s opening week, similarly to Bowling Green, which is splitting its first two games of the season. The Badgers defeated the Oakland Golden Grizzlies Wednesday evening 79-68 but fell to the hands of the Marquette Golden Eagles Saturday night by three points, losing 65-62 in overtime.
Nevertheless, Wisconsin is fresh off a game last night, as they defeated the Milwaukee Panthers 75-46.
Unlike Chmiel, the Badgers’ first-year head coach Robin Pingeton has mixed up her starting five throughout the first three games of the season. The three players that has started in all three affairs are junior guard Kyrah Daniels, junior guard Laci Steele, and senior guard Destiny Howell.
Howell leads Wisconsin in points per game, averaging 13.3, with Daniels right behind, averaging 10.3 points per game on the season. Despite those two players leading their squad in that category, junior guard Breauna Ware, who started in the opener against Oakland, scored a team-high 13 points en route to defeating Milwaukee last night.
BGSU needs to watch out for the Badgers’ dynamic pass-heavy offense as they enter Wednesday’s match, as Wisconsin has surpassed double-digit assists in all three of its games. The Badgers reached 14 assists against Oakland, 11 assists versus Marquette, and 14 assists against Milwaukee.
Additionally, the Falcons need to be prepared for how aggressive Wisconsin wants to be defensively. During two out of their first three games, the Badgers have recorded over 10 steals as a team.
FALCON FOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH
Johnea Donahue (Bowling Green – No. 3 sophomore guard)
Even though the Orange and Brown crumbled on Friday to the Gamecocks, Donahue proved that she is capable of being a force to be reckoned with after she registered nine points, four rebounds, and five steals against South Carolina.
Ky’Aira Miller (Bowling Green – No. 12 freshman guard)
Throughout the first two games of the season, Miller has validated that she can contribute to BG’s offense, especially after she has averaged 7.5 points per game while shooting 45.5% from the floor to begin the season. Even though she is a freshman, she can hold her own at the D-1 level.
Gift Uchenna Okeke (Wisconsin – No. 15 senior forward)
Uchenna Okeke is off to a phenomenal start in her senior season, as she has been nearly averaging a double-double across all three games. She is averaging 9.3 points per game, in addition to 8.3 rebounds per contest. Uchenna Okeke gives the Badgers a key boost offensively as she comes off the bench while using her 6-3 frame to her advantage in the paint.
Destiny Howell (Wisconsin – No. 1 senior guard)
Howell, by far, is one of the most gifted scorers on this Badgers squad. She currently leads the team in points per game, averaging 13.3 points per game, but she also loves to find open players offensively as she is second on the team in assists, averaging 2.3 assists per game in the young season. Howell likely will start against Bowling Green and will need to be watched closely during their matchup.
