Bowling Green State University women’s basketball team secured a 72-61 victory over the University at Buffalo on Tuesday night in a Mid-American Conference matchup at the Stroh Center.
Junior Paige Kohler led the Falcons with a season-high 26 points, hitting six of seven attempts from three-point range. Both her total points and number of three-pointers made set new season highs for Bowling Green. Kohler also collected nine rebounds to lead her team.
Sophomore Lauren Gerken contributed 12 points, while senior Kaia Woods added nine points, five rebounds, six assists, and three steals. For Buffalo, Meg Lucas recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Aniya Rowe scored 13 points, Ella Corry had 12, and Diann Jackson finished with 10.
The Falcons started strong by scoring the first eight points of the game and led by as many as 22 late in the first half. Bowling Green took a 41-20 advantage into halftime after holding Buffalo to just five second-quarter points.
Buffalo narrowed the gap in the fourth quarter with a run that brought them within six points of Bowling Green with just over four minutes left. However, junior Joniyah Bland-Fitzpatrick responded with a key three-pointer—her first of the season—and Gerken followed up with another shot from beyond the arc to restore an eleven-point cushion for Bowling Green.
Despite being outscored by Buffalo in points in the paint (46-18), Bowling Green’s success from long range proved decisive; they made eleven three-pointers compared to two for Buffalo.
Looking ahead, Bowling Green will play Ball State on Saturday at Worthen Arena before returning home for games against Western Michigan and Toledo later this month.
For updates on BGSU women’s basketball, fans can follow their social media accounts or visit BGSUFalcons.com.
