BGSU women’s basketball (5-4) remains at home for their fourth straight home game to battle against the Division II Lourdes Gray Wolves (9-0) on Sunday afternoon.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Trey Kennedy and Adam Duffin will be calling the game, with tipoff starting at 2:00 p.m. at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Matchup History
Entering Sunday’s game, this will be the first-ever meeting between the Falcons and the Gray Wolves. It is important to note that Lourdes is a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics school (NAIA) that plays in the same conference as Defiance, where Bowling Green played last Sunday, Dec. 7.
Bowling Green
The Orange and Brown enter Sunday’s matchup on a four-game winning streak, with their most recent victory against the Defiance Yellow Jackets, winning 118-35. On top of that, BG has amassed over 100 points in each of its last two games, with the Falcons defeating Kentucky State 103-32.
While on this home stand, head coach Fred Chmiel has largely stuck with the same starting five during this stretch. The lone adjustment came as senior guard Kaia Woods was inserted into the starting lineup, replacing senior guard Emily Siesel.
Aside from that tweak, BGSU’s opening group has featured junior guard Paige Kohler, sophomore guard Johnea Donahue, junior forward Taya Ellis, and Redshirt Junior guard Jasmine Fearne.
Overall, the Falcons have been efficient at scoring in each of their last two games, posting shooting percentages in the low to mid-50s. Against Kentucky State, the Orange and Brown shot 54% from the floor, and 51% against Defiance.
Additionally, while on this two-game stretch, BG has dominated the glass while steamrolling its opponents in total rebounds. The Orange and Brown tallied 50 rebounds against Kentucky State, compared to their 29. To go along with that, Bowling Green recorded 61 total rebounds on Sunday against Defiance’s 40 total rebounds.
Lourdes
With the Gray Wolves’ undefeated mark in hand, Lourdes brings a nine-game winning streak to the Stroh Center with its most recent victory against the Aquinas Saints Saturday night, winning 61-55.
Pacing the team for Lourdes are both senior guard Emma Pedroza and Kaylona Butler, who each lead the team in points scored per contest. Butler is averaging 23.7 points per game, while Pedroza is registering 19.9 points per game.
Collectively as a team, Lourdes is shooting 44% from the hardwood, while its opponents are shooting 32% from the floor against the Gray Wolves. This is because of Lourdes’ tenacious defense, who averages 11.1 steals per game.
By and Large, Bowling Green’s defensive unit needs to be ready for Lourdes’ unselfish brand of basketball, as they generate 14.8 assists per game. Senior forward Tamayah Worthy tops the program with 3.8 assists per outing.
FALCON FOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jasmine Fearne (Bowling Green – No. 20, redshirt-junior guard)
Fearne has become an outside threat throughout the past two games, as she has shot 42% from three-point land, combined with BG’s victories against Kentucky State and against Defiance.
Taya Ellis (Bowling Green – No. 11, Junior forward)
Ellis heads into Sunday’s action fresh off another outstanding performance, where she led the Falcons in total rebounds with 13 boards against Defiance. Having said that, she has showcased her ability to constantly rebound the basketball as she has averaged 7.1 boards on the season.
Emma Pedroza (Lourdes – No. 2 senior guard)
Pedroza has blossomed into a premier player for the Gray Wolves, as she has averaged 19.9 points per game, proving that she has a natural gift to score. In Lourdes’ most recent win against Aquinas, she notched 13 points off 6-19 shooting.
Camryn Ivy (Lourdes – No. 34 senior forward)
Similar to Ellis, Ivy has a knack down low. Ivy averages 5.6 rebounds per game, but she is also an efficient scorer, as she nets 8.6 points per contest with a 55% field goal percentage.
