Velasco leads Falcons to 69-52 win over Gators

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Bowling Green State University sophomore guard Amy Velasco scored nine straight points unanswered in the third quarter, taking the Falcons from a 35-32 deficit to a 41-35 lead.

The Falcons never trailed again, defeating Florida, 69-52, in a WNIT Great Eight game at the Stroh Center Monday.

BOWLING GREEN, OH – MARCH 27: Players, students, and fans celebrate following the Falcons 69-52 win over Florida during a WNIT Great 8 game on March 27, 2023 at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Grau/Sentinel-Tribune)

As a crowd of 3,788 celebrated, several hundred students swooped to the floor once the game became final to celebrate the Falcons’ win over a Southeastern Conference school.

The student body, led by a large contingent of football players, raised Velasco and junior guard Lexi Fleming onto their shoulders.

BOWLING GREEN, OH – MARCH 27: Bowling Green Falcons head coach Robyn Fralick calls out instructions to her players during the fourth quarter of a WNIT Great 8 game against Florida on March 27, 2023 at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio. Bowling Green defeated Florida 69-52. (Photo by Scott Grau/Sentinel-Tribune)

“What a night,” BGSU coach Robyn Fralick said. “That was a lot of good things coming together.

“Our crowd, our fans, our student section, it’s such a joyful feeling and such a rewarding feeling. When you can sort of snapshot those moments, you think, ‘Man, these kids earned this. These kids deserve this. They’ve worked really hard, they’ve been resilient, they’ve been tough, and they’ve been consistent.’”

Velasco acknowledged that being recognized as a game hero by the student body makes the victory over a power five conference school even sweeter. The student body was chanting “SEC, SEC” as the clock wound down to the final seconds.

BOWLING GREEN, OH – MARCH 27: Bowling Green Falcons guard Lexi Fleming (25) tries to dribble through Florida defenders during the fourth quarter of a WNIT Great 8 game on March 27, 2023 at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio. Bowling Green defeated Florida 69-52. (Photo by Scott Grau/Sentinel-Tribune)

“The crowd was absolutely amazing today,” Velasco said. “The student section was amazing, and I think just having them here and their support, it means the world to us.”

The Falcons improve to 31-6, matching a program all-time high and a Mid-American Conference high for wins, while Florida exits the WNIT at 19-15.

BGSU advances to take on Columbia (26-5), which defeated Ivy League rival Harvard (20-11), 77-71, in their WNIT Great Eight contest Sunday. The Falcons and Lions will face off in a Fab Four contest at the Stroh Center Wednesday, tipoff at 6 p.m.

BOWLING GREEN, OH – MARCH 27: Fans in the student section try to distract Florida Gators center Ra Shaya Kyle (24) during a free throw attempt during the third quarter of a WNIT Great 8 game on March 27, 2023 at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio. Bowling Green defeated Florida 69-52. (Photo by Scott Grau/Sentinel-Tribune)

The other semifinal pits Kansas (22-11) against Washington (18-14) with the championship slated for Saturday at a site to be determined.

Velasco started her nine-point run by making 15-foot jumper, and then she beat her defender to the hole three straight times, scoring on layups.

On her first layup she was fouled and finished off the “and one” for an old fashioned three-point play. She said the Falcons were just responding to what was not working for them in the first half.

BOWLING GREEN, OH – MARCH 27: Bowling Green Falcons guard Amy Velasco (1) puts up a shot against Florida Gators guard Alberte Rimdal (5) and Florida Gators guard KK Deans (3) during the third quarter of a WNIT Great 8 game on March 27, 2023 at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio. Bowling Green defeated Florida 69-52. (Photo by Scott Grau/Sentinel-Tribune)

“In the third quarter we kind of changed up our offense a little bit,” Velasco said. “We kind of went to the ball screen look and it just gave me opportunities to score.

“I honestly could not have done it without that ball screen. It was multiple people for (setting) the ball screen, but that definitely helped a lot.”

Velasco led the Falcons with 18 points and five assists and senior guard Elissa Brett, wearing a facemask and still sporting a shiner around her eyes after getting punched by a Memphis player Thursday, had 16 points, nine rebounds and two assists.

BOWLING GREEN, OH – MARCH 27: Bowling Green Falcons guard Lexi Fleming (25) puts up a shot against Florida Gators guard Alberte Rimdal (5) during the third quarter of a WNIT Great 8 game on March 27, 2023 at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio. Bowling Green defeated Florida 69-52. (Photo by Scott Grau/Sentinel-Tribune)

Senior forward Allison Day had 12 points, six boards, and two assists, Fleming had seven points, seven rebounds, and five steals, sophomore guard Jocelyn Tate had six points, 12 rebounds, and four assists.

Fifth-year senior forward Kadie Hempfling scored six points on two three-point goals and junior forward Sophie Dziekan had four points and four rebounds.

What’s so special about Tate grabbing 12 caroms, Brett getting nine and Fleming seven boards? It’s the fact that, especially in Fleming’s case, they were competing with opponents nearly a foot taller or more.

The Gators enlisted 6-foot-6 junior center Ra Shaya Kyle, starting 6-4 senior forward Faith Dut, and have three others standing 6-2 or taller. Dziekan is BGSU’s tallest at 6-2, Brett and Tate are 5-10, and Fleming is 5-5.

Still, the Falcons outrebounded the Gators, 47-35, and BGSU’s defense also forced 22 turnovers, including 10 steals, while committing 16.

The smaller Falcons enjoyed a 36-20 advantage in scoring in the paint, a 16-6 advantage in second chance points, thanks to 17 offensive rebounds (Tate had six), and an 18-13 advantage in points off turnovers.

That helped make up for a not-so-good shooting night for the Falcons, who shot 38% (27-for-71) from the field, including 23% (6-for-26) from the arc.

The Gators were not any better, making 19-of-53 (36%) from the floor and 7-for-21 from downtown.

However, BGSU had to figure out a better way to score against Florida, because they were struggling in the first half trying to score inside against the taller Gators. Florida ended up blocking seven shots, including five by 6-2 junior forward Jordyn Merritt.

In the first half, BGSU made only 10-of-36 field goals (28%), including 5-for-16 from three-point territory.

It helped that Hempfling hit two triples in the final minute of the half, including one at the buzzer to bring the Falcons to within three, 31-28, at intermission.

Florida, which took a 9-3 lead three minutes into the game, ended up shooting 42% (13-for-31) in the opening half, including 4-for-12 (33%) from the arc, plus they forced 12 BGSU turnovers.

The Falcons had just four turnovers in the second half, which is saying something because the Gators ramped up to a full court defensive press in the fourth quarter.

“I’m proud of our effort,” Fralick said. “We sustained through the first half. I thought we had to settle into the game a little bit. In the second half I thought we played excellent.”

Florida senior guard Leilani Correa was the only Gator to reach double figures, scoring 20 points with five rebounds and two steals. Merritt finished with nine points, 10 rebounds and two steals, but had six turnovers.

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