The Bowling Green State University women’s basketball team narrowly lost to the University of Massachusetts, 65-64, in a Mid-American Conference game at the Mullins Center on Saturday. The contest was closely contested throughout, featuring 20 lead changes and neither side leading by more than five points.
Junior Taya Ellis and sophomore Lauren Gerken led the Falcons with a combined 38 points. Ellis achieved a career-high 20 points, making all nine of her field goal attempts. Gerken contributed a season-high 18 points, including four three-pointers.
Allie Palmieri led UMass with 20 points, while Yahmani McKayle and Megan Olbrys each scored 16 for the Minutewomen. At halftime, UMass held a two-point advantage after McKayle made a half-court shot as time expired in the second quarter.
Late in the fourth quarter, Bowling Green briefly took the lead when Johnea Donahue made a free throw with just over one minute remaining. Palmieri responded with a three-pointer for UMass. The Falcons had opportunities to regain control but missed key shots down the stretch.
Ellis also recorded nine rebounds, falling just short of a double-double. Donahue added five rebounds, four assists, and six steals for Bowling Green.
“Junior Taya Ellis, as mentioned, scored a career-high 20 points on Saturday, and went a perfect 9-for-9 from the field. That marks the third-best field-goal percentage in a game in program history,” according to BGSU Athletics staff. “Michelle Terry holds the BGSU record, having gone 11-for-11 from the floor in a win over Eastern Michigan (Feb. 14, 1996). Erica Porter had a 10-for-10 performance against Buffalo just under two years ago (Feb. 28, 2024).”
Statistically, UMass shot slightly better from the field at just over fifty percent compared to Bowling Green’s forty-five percent. The Falcons made seven three-pointers to UMass’s five and forced twenty turnovers while committing nineteen themselves.
Gerken matched her career high for three-pointers made in one game and has now accomplished this feat twice this season.
Kohler scored ten of her twelve total points during the final quarter for Bowling Green.
With six steals in this matchup, Donahue tied her steal total from last season and is now tied for eighth on BGSU’s single-season list in that category.
Bowling Green will return home on Wednesday to face Akron at Stroh Center before traveling north next Saturday to play Toledo in their first meeting of this season’s “Battle of I-75.” For more information about BGSU women’s basketball activities or updates follow their official social media accounts or visit their website at BGSUFalcons.com.
