The Bowling Green State University women’s basketball team secured a 77-66 victory over Northern Illinois University on Saturday at the Stroh Center, concluding their regular season with four wins in their last five games. The Falcons, now holding a 17-13 overall record and 9-9 in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play, were led by junior Paige Kohler, who scored 20 points.
Sophomore Lauren Gerken contributed 17 points off the bench, while junior Jaedyn Cook and sophomore Johnea Donahue each added 12 points. Cook achieved her highest point total in MAC play this season. Donahue also led the team with eight rebounds, seven assists, and six steals.
Senior Emily Siesel recorded six points, making both of her three-point attempts. Siesel, Cook, Donahue, and Gerken each finished with a plus/minus rating of +12.
For Northern Illinois (7-23, 4-14 MAC), Nevaeh Wingate led all players with 21 points and nine rebounds. This game marked NIU’s final appearance in the MAC before moving to the Horizon League on July 1.
The Falcons closed the first half on an 11-0 run after the game was tied at 26. Key plays included a three-pointer from Gerken and consecutive scores from Cook. Bowling Green entered halftime leading 37-26.
Northern Illinois narrowed the deficit to seven during the third quarter but could not get closer as Bowling Green responded with another scoring run early in the fourth period to take a commanding lead.
Bowling Green’s bench outscored NIU’s reserves by a margin of 47-10.
With six steals in Saturday’s game, Donahue increased her single-season school-record total to 113 steals. She now ranks third on the MAC’s single-season steals list behind Western Michigan’s Maria Jilian (124 in 2002-03) and Toledo’s Mitzi Hallinan (123 in 1982-83).
At home this season, BGSU finished with a record of 12-3 overall and went 6-3 against conference opponents at the Stroh Center. Over the past six seasons, they have posted a home record of 64-20 (.762), including a mark of 40-16 (.714) versus conference teams.
The Falcons will be seeded seventh for the upcoming MAC Tournament and are set to face second-seeded Ball State on Wednesday, March 11, in Cleveland at Rocket Arena. The tournament semifinals are scheduled for Friday, March 13, followed by the championship game on Saturday morning.
“With six more steals on Saturday, sophomore Johnea Donahue extended her single-season school-record total to 113.
Donahue, who has missed three games this season, has moved into third place on the MAC’s single-season steals list. She trails only Western Michigan’s Maria Jilian (124 in 2002-03) and Toledo’s Mitzi Hallinan (123 in 1982-83) on that chart.”
“BGSU finished the regular season with a 12-3 record in home games, including a 6-3 mark vs. MAC teams at the Stroh.
Over the last six seasons, the Falcons are 64-20 at home (.762), with a 40-16 record (.714) vs. conference foes in that time.”
