In hopes of earning their sixth Mid-American Conference (MAC) win of the season, BGSU women’s basketball (13-12, 5-8) returns home to the Stroh Center to host the Western Michigan Broncos (7-16, 3-9) on Ash Wednesday.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Lucas Kleimeyer and Carter Leonard will have the call on WBGU 88.1 FM at 7:00 p.m. Sam Bork, Jakub Kopasz and Kevin Hutchinson will have pregame at 6:30 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday night will mark the 83rd all-time meeting between the two programs. The Falcons lead the series 45-37, and have a home record of 23-14.
Just over a month ago in Kalamazoo, Bowling Green defeated Western Michigan 61-54. Both senior guard Kaia Woods and sophomore forward Lauren Gerken finished the night with 15 points, and junior guard Paige Kohler recorded 13 with five rebounds.
BOWLING GREEN
Now down to the final five games of the season, the Orange and Brown are sitting in the eighth and final spot in the MAC Tournament, following their 82-67 loss to Ball State on the road.
Individually, sophomore guard Johnea Donahue is fourth in the entire nation in steals per game, averaging 4.00 per game. Which would break a single-season program record currently held by Talita Scott in 1993-94, who averaged the single-season record 3.07 steals per game (SPG).
After missing a chunk of the second half against Buffalo due to an injury, Donahue was back in the starting five this past Saturday against Ball State, scoring 12 points, seven steals, and six rebounds.
Following this game, the Falcons will have matchups against three opponents that got the best of them earlier this season. Rivals Toledo at home on Saturday, Ohio in Athens on Feb. 25, and Central Michigan on the road on March 4. The importance of a win against the Broncos could very well determine their hopes of a MAC Tournament birth.
WESTERN MICHIGAN
Led by BGSU Hall-of-Famer and first-year head coach Kate Achter, the Broncos are searching for their first MAC win since a 59-54 win against Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 31.
Achter, who played with Bowling Green from 2004 to 2008, helped lead BG to four MAC regular-season titles, three MAC Tournament crowns and four national postseason appearances.
Western Michigan is coming off close back-to-back losses against the top teams, Miami and Central Michigan, losing 60-55 to the RedHawks and 70-67 to the Chippewaes. After starting conference play 2-0, the Broncos have gone just 1-8, with a single MAC win on the road.
The Bronco offense ranks dead last in the MAC, scoring just 56 points per game (PPG), and are in the bottom three in both offensive and defensive rebounds. Yet, a win against the Falcons on the road could potentially keep their slim MAC Tournament hopes alive.
FALCON FOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH
#10 Paige Kohler – Junior Guard, Bowling Green
Kohler has had two of her most productive scoring performances this past week, scoring a season-high 26 points against Buffalo and 17 versus Ball State. She has also made eight 3-pointers in the last two contests combined.
#3 Johnea Donahue – Sophomore Guard, Bowling Green
Besides Donahue being on pace to break the program’s single-season SPG record, she is averaging 11.3 PPG and 5.4 rebounds per game (RPG), along with being first on the team in total assists, with 89.
#20 Kailey Starks – Sophomore Guard, Western Michigan
Starks is the only Bronco who has started all 23 games this season, while leading the team with 13.0 PPG. She is also shooting 76% from the free-throw line.
#12 Alli Carlson – Senior Guard, Western Michigan
Second on the team in scoring this season, Carlson averages 9.5 PPG. She is also one of the primary threats from three, shooting 34.5% from beyond the arc.
