Dec. 8, 2013

Box Score

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Bowling Green State University shot 56 percent from the floor and used a big early scoring run to take control in recording an 87-64 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team Sunday afternoon at the Stroh Center.

The Panthers (2-6) had just nine players suited up for the game against the Falcons (8-1), who started the week receiving votes in both of the national polls and are off to the second-best start in school history.

Junior Ashley Green led Milwaukee with 15 points and seven rebounds. Junior Macie Dorow was also in double-figures with 12, making 5-of-8 shots from the floor.

"Bowling Green did play a very good game," UWM head coach Kyle Rechlicz said. "It was nice for us to come out, on the road, and know that we didn't have to dig out of an early hole. They went on that early run and we did not counter it and that was truthfully the game right there. I felt like we battled all day, especially down the stretch, and they really played together and with heart. I think that will help us down the road."

Senior Emily Decorah saw her first extended playing time of the season coming off an injury, scoring 11 points in 18 minutes of action. Sophomore Sydney Howard set career-highs with seven points and four rebounds off the bench.

Senior Angela Rodriguez did not score in double-figures for the first time this season (7 points), but did have a game-high nine assists.

Deborah Hoekstra led five BGSU players in double-figures, finishing with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting off the bench. Alexis Rogers added a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds, helping the Falcons to an impressive 50-30 advantage on points in the paint.

Milwaukee looked poised to make it a battle early, erasing a 4-0 hole by scoring five straight to take a 5-4 advantage. The teams traded baskets and eventually settled in to a 10-10 tie at the 13:19 mark.

From there, it was all Bowling Green. The Falcons scored 10 straight as part of an 18-2 run to push their lead to 16 at 28-12. From there, the lead eventually grew to 19 at the half at 44-25 on the scoreboard.

"I felt like we went really flat offensively and just weren't getting our legs into our shots and staying disciplined," Rechlicz said. "But, a testament to Bowling Green on that, they really mixed up their defense and obviously scouted our players and knew our strengths and weaknesses. They played to that and that is the mark of a really good team and something that we need to emulate a little bit."

Bowling Green finished the day at 55.9 percent (33-of-59) from the field, the first UWM opponent in 54 games to hit at least 55 percent of its shots from the floor.

Up next, the Panthers stay on the road and head to Assembly Hall for their first-ever contest against Indiana University. Tip off on December 11 is set for 6 p.m. CST.