KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Bowling Green ran into a Bronco Express Saturday afternoon and the result was a 66-55
loss to Western Michigan. It was the second straight loss for the Falcon women, now 17-4 overall and 5-3
in the Mid-American Conference. BG suffered back-to-back conference losses for the first time in three
years.
Western Michigan shot 59.3 percent from the field in the second half, out-scoring BG 42-18 to pull the
upset. The Broncos are 6-15 overall and 2-6 in the MAC.
Bowling Green shot just 22.2 percent from the field in the second half, making only 6-of-27 shots,
including 4-of-16 from the 3-point arc.
Bowling Green did not get a good start to either half, but recovered in the first half to take a 37-24
lead into the break.
The Broncos began the second half on a 25-4 run. WMU scored the first 10 points of the period before
Lauren Prochaska split a pair of free throws with nearly five minutes gone, and BG did not make a field
goal in the second period until 14:31 was left.
But, the Broncos answered that basket by scoring nine straight points to take the lead for good. During
that run, a pair of free throws from DeAirra Goss put the Broncos ahead, 41-40, with 11:06 on the clock,
and BG never led again.
“It’s been a reoccurring theme and we remain concerned about it. Only eight points in the first eight
minutes of the game and then only three points in the first eight minutes of the second half,” BG head
coach Curt Miller said. “It kind of set the tone in the second half. We had a 15-point lead late in the
first half and had all the momentum. We got the ball stolen from us, one of many turnovers tonight, that
led to an easy basket for them and gave them back a little momentum.
“Going into halftime, we knew the 13-point lead was very deceiving because of how they can defend you and
really be physical.”
Trailing by 10 with 5:12 left, Bowling Green worked its way as close as three points with 3:48 remaining.
WMU responded with seven straight points over the next minute to push the lead back to 10. Five of those
points were by Brenna Banktson, scoring on an offensive putback and drilling a three. WMU hit four free
throws in the final minute to secure the win.
Prochaska, BG’s leading scorer at 19.7 ppg, was held to four points. She was only 1-of-10 from the field,
0-of-5 on threes, and 2-of-4 from the free throw line. She played 36 minutes.
Chrissy Steffen was the lone Falcon in double figures with 12 points. Jen Uhl had eight points and 12
rebounds while Maggie Hennegan had 10 rebounds.
Banktson scored 19 points for the Broncos, while Taylor Manley added 14 and Ebony Cleary scored 11.
Banktson and Manley combined for 22 points in the second half.
The Falcons have a quick turnaround before the next road game. BG plays at Northern Illinois University
Tuesday with tipoff at 8 p.m..
“It’s a gut-check. It’s a character test. We really have our work cut out of us starting Tuesday at
Northern,” Miller said.
NOTES: It was WMU’s first win over BG in Kalamazoo since Jan. 29, 2003 … Western Michigan’s defense
recorded nine steals, six blocked shots and forced 22 turnovers, scoring 27 points off those turnovers
… Fifteen of the turnovers came from BG’s starters … Prochaska needs 27 points to become BG’s
all-time scoring leader.
