BGSU Women’s Basketball Falls to UC Irvine in Great Alaska Shootout
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A slow start adn cold shooting plagued the Bowling Green State University women’s basketball team on Friday, resulting in a 75-50 loss to the UC Irvine Anteaters in the opening game of the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage. The Falcons (1-4) suffered their fourth consecutive defeat, while UCI improved to 3-2 on the season.
The Falcons struggled to find their rhythm early, failing to convert a field goal for nearly nine minutes and falling behind 15-3 in the first quarter. Their shooting woes were notably stark, connecting on just 5% of their attempts – a mere 1-of-17 from the field – and missing all ten shots from beyond the three-point arc.
“We need to find a way to have a little better start in the first quarter, that’s kind of been our bugaboo all season long,” a BGSU assistant coach stated. “We had pretty clean looks early on, and they didn’t go in.”
In contrast to Bowling Green’s offensive struggles, the Anteaters established a clear game plan focused on attacking the basket. Of their 15 shot attempts in the first quarter,only three were from long range. This interior focus helped UCI build a commanding 33-18 lead by halftime.
second Quarter Provides a Glimmer of Hope
While the first quarter was decidedly one-sided,the second quarter saw a more competitive exchange between the two teams. The Falcons found some success getting to the free-throw line, scoring eight of their 15 points in the quarter from charity shots. junior guard Paige Kohler began to find her stride, contributing five points and ultimately leading Bowling Green with a game-high 18 points.
Anteaters Pull Away in the Second Half
The Anteaters extended their lead in the third quarter,outscoring the Falcons 27-15 and establishing a seemingly insurmountable 60-33 advantage. A key factor in UCI’s surge was the sharp shooting of sophomore guard Lauryn Madsen, who connected on three crucial three-point shots in the final minutes of the frame. Madsen finished the night with a team-best 15 points, one of five Anteaters to score in double figures.
Despite a stronger final quarter – where they outscored UCI 17-15 – the Falcons were unable to overcome the substantial deficit. The final score reflected the Anteaters’ dominance: 75-50.
Key Performances and Looking Ahead
Beyond Madsen’s scoring, the Anteaters received a strong all-around performance from senior guard Jada Wynn, who recorded a double-double with 14 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and two steals. For Bowling Green, sophomore guard Johnea Donahue was the only other player to reach double figures, finishing with 10 points.
Why did this game happen? The game was the opening round of the Great Alaska Shootout,a multi-day college basketball tournament.
Who played? The Bowling Green State University Falcons played against the UC Irvine Anteaters.
What was the outcome? UC Irvine defeated Bowling Green State University 75-50.
How did it end? UCI built a large lead through strong interior offense and shooting, particularly in the first and third quarters, and maintained it despite a
