The best 21-game start in Bowling Green State University women’s basketball history continued Wednesday as the Falcons downed Western Michigan, 74-56, at the Stroh Center.
The Falcons won their ninth straight home game, improving to 19-2 overall and 8-1 in the Mid-American Conference, tied with Ball State (17-4, 8-1) for first place. The Broncos fall to 9-11 and 4-5.
Four Falcons reached double figures, led by sophomore guard Jocelyn Tate, who had 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, three steals, and was fouled nine times.
Senior Elissa Brett matched Tate’s scoring output with 16 points, plus she had six rebounds, six assists and four steals.
BGSU 6-foot-1 senior forward Allison Day, who was double-teamed much of the game, had 11 points and five rebounds, all off the offensive glass, and sophomore guard Amy Velasco came off the bench to score 11 points with two assists.
It wasn’t a smooth start for the Falcons as they fell behind 25-14 after one quarter, but the defense kicked in the second quarter, allowing only eight points as BGSU tied the game 32-32 at intermission.
“I thought Western came out and played well and we were on our heels in that first quarter,” BGSU coach Robyn Fralick said. “But I thought we settled in and had a really good second quarter.”
Fralick said she gave a clear message to her players that what happened in the first quarter cannot continue.
“I thought we were giving up a lot of rhythm threes, one-pass threes,” Fralick said. “We adjusted a little and we switched the matchups. But we just had to guard our matchup a little better. I thought they were just getting some open set shots.”
Once the Falcons’ defense kicked in, it gave the Broncos fits, forcing 29 turnovers — a number usually not seen at the collegiate level. Sixteen were steals, led by junior guard Nyla Hampton’s five thefts.
Many steals were not just the result of one player, but multiple players — one defender not allowing the easy shot, pass, or drive, and the other providing help and forcing a steal.
It appeared as if the Falcons were double-teaming everybody, but they were able to maintain coverage without allowing any Bronco to get open away from the ball. More and more, their speed wore the Broncos down. Part of that is scouting report, Brett said.
“I think it’s just knowing personnel and defending as a team,” Brett said. “We adjusted a bit a quarter at a time. I think we needed to come out stronger in the third quarter because we didn’t in the first.”
Fralick added, “We did a really good job of forcing turnovers, but we need to do a better job of taking care of the ball,” noting that the Falcons had 16 turnovers of their own.
As a result, BGSU outscored Western Michigan 32-8 in points off turnovers and 20-0 on fast breaks. The Broncos shot well, connecting on 50% of field goals at halftime and finished at 46% (21-for-46), but the Falcons got 13 more shots.
As a result, after scoring 25 in the first quarter, Western scored just 31 points through the final three quarters while the Falcons put up 60 points.
“We really came out in the second half and played some good basketball,” Fralick said. “Defensively after the first quarter we did a real good job.
“We played way cleaner in the second half,” Fralick continued. “We were better passing, executing, cutting, and I just thought we just settled in and got way better shots. When you get better shots, the defense gets set, and when the defense gets set, you can lock in there.”
Brett got all six of her assists in the third quarter, and played a role in all eight field goals. She said the Falcons’ offensive flow was much better as she continued to find open cutters and shooters.
“I think at halftime we talked about how the first quarter wasn’t the best start, the first quarter was a bit odd for us,” Brett said. “Just coming out and having a great third quarter is what we aim for and that is what we did.”
Another reason for the Falcons’ total shot advantage was a 15-7 advantage in offensive rebounds.
The taller Broncos started three players standing six feet or more, but the Falcons were not afraid to take the ball inside, outscoring the Broncos 32-26 in the paint, and challenging them on the boards. The Falcons had a 35-28 advantage in rebounds.
BGSU shot well, too, at 42% (25-for-59), including 9-for-25 (36%) from the arc and made 15-of-21 (71%) from the free throw line. Western was 8-for-22 (36%) from downtown and 6-for-10 from the charity stripe.
Hampton had nine points and four assists, junior guard Lexi Fleming had seven points, three assists and two steals, junior forward Sophie Dziekan had four points and two assists, and junior forward Olivia Hill grabbed four rebounds.
Defensively, the Falcons had to focus on 6-2 junior Taylor Williams since their top scorer, sophomore guard Lauren Ross, is out for the season after an injury suffered three games earlier.
Williams had a double-double with a game-high 17 points, 12 rebounds and two assists, but she also had a game-high eight turnovers.
Western senior forward Abby Voss scored 15 points and junior guard Hannah Spitzley had 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals, but she committed seven turnovers.
Freshman guard Maggie Stutelberg had eight points and two assists, fifth-year guard Maddie Watters had four points and two steals, freshman guard Alli Carlson had three assists and three steals, and junior guards Gabi Saxman and Megan Wagner had two assists each for the Broncos.
