Morgan Sharps scored a game-high 29 points as the Bowling Green State University women’s basketball team rolled along to a 66-47 victory over Miami University on Saturday in front of 1,996 fans at the Stroh Center.
On Senior Day, Sharps scored 22 of those 29 points in the middle two quarters as the Falcons (15-12 overall, 9-7 Mid-American Conference) erased an early deficit. Sharps had 18 first-half points, including 11 in the second quarter alone, then had 11 more points in the third period.
Erika Porter had yet another double-double for the Falcons with 15 points and a game-high 15 rebounds while Amy Velasco scored 11 points in the win.
Cori Lard led the RedHawks (8-19, 5-12 MAC) with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Miami took an early 11-4 lead, but the Falcons proceeded to go on an 11-0 run to take the lead. The RedHawks responded by scoring seven-straight points, but Sharps hit a three-pointer – she had seven on the day – to tie the score and begin a 10-0 run for the hosts. Paige Kohler’s triple capped that run and gave the Falcons a 25-18 lead.
Sharps hit three-pointers on back-to-back trips down the floor late in the half to give the Falcons a 14-point lead. That lead grew to 20 points on a short-corner jumper by senior Olivia Hill midway through the third period, and BG led by 20 after 30 minutes.
The visitors began the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run, with an Amber Tretter three-point play cutting the Falcons’ advantage to 12 points, but BG slowly built that lead back out to the final margin of 19.
The Falcons had a 40-25 rebounding lead in the win, which clinched a berth in the MAC Tournament. BGSU will play an opponent to be determined in a quarterfinal-round game on Wednesday, March 13, in Cleveland.
BGSU honored seniors Sharps, Hill, Sophie Dziekan and Jasmine Clerkley in ceremonies prior to tipoff.
