Bowling Green Outlasts Kent State 77-71.
1/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Postgame Quotes
KENT, Ohio - Kent State's eight-game winning streak came to an end Wednesday night (Jan. 7) as Bowling Green (12-2) outlasted the Golden Flashes 77-71 at the M.A.C. Center. However, on opening night for Mid-American Conference play, the Flashes left no question as to just how far they've come since last season.
Anna Kowalska led the Flashes with 20 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, but was held to four points in a back-and-forth second half. After trailing by as many as 13 late in the first half, KSU took the lead down to one point (53-52) midway through the second, but could never quite complete the comeback.
The Falcons captured their 12th consecutive victory by overcoming an early 13-point deficit and getting a boost from their bench, who outscored the KSU bench 24-13. Bowling Green point guard Tracy Pontius went 5-for-7 from three-point range as the Falcons hit 13 shots from behind the arc.
Playing with extreme intensity to start the game, Kent State jumped out to 20-7 lead, behind a high-pressure defense. The Flashes made four of their first five field goal attempts and held the Falcons scoreless (0-for-3) from the behind the arc in the opening run. KSU committed just one turnover in the first eight minutes and forced six.
A three-point play by Tara Breske sparked a 13-0 Falcon run to tie the game at 20. Following the three-point play, Bowling Green hit six of their next eight three-point attempts, which set the stage for a 38-12 BG run that included 18 points from the Falcon bench.
Just before the break, Stephanie Gibson gave the Flashes some hope with a buzzer-beating three, just inside the half court line to cut the lead to 45-35. KSU was without Jamilah Humes for the final 12:20 of the opening half after being whistled for her second foul.
A second half three-pointer by Jena Stutzman made it a one-point margin (53-52), but Pontius answered with a three of her own. Ten second half points from Chenel Harris kept the margin close, but Lauren Prochaska's 12 second half points often came at critical times for the Falcons.
Prochaska finished with 20 points on four three-pointers along with six assists, while Pontius finished with 17.
"I think the biggest thing tonight was keeping our compusure after the slow start," Bowling Green coach Curt Miller said.
Harris ended the night with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Humes chipped in 13 points. The Flashes outrebounded the Falcons 18-9 on the offensive ends, but only scored 16 second chance points.
"We were outplayed at the gurad position," Head Coach Bob Lindsay said. "And I think that was the difference in tonight's game."
The Golden Flashes (11-2, 0-1 MAC) will be faced with another difficult test Saturday at Miami. The RedHawks are off to a 9-5 start.
| Postgame Quotes |
