MUNCIE, Ind. – The Bowling Green State University women's basketball team fell, 71-51, on the road against Mid-American Conference-leading Ball State University Wednesday evening (Feb. 5) at Worthen Arena.

Sophomore Paige Kohler scored 15 points to lead the Falcons (11-11, 5-6 MAC), with fifth-year Falcon Lexi Fleming adding 14 and senior Amy Velasco 13.

Madelyn Bischoff had 20 points for the Cardinals (19-4, 11-0 MAC), with Ally Becki and Alex Richard scoring 17 apiece. BSU went 12-of-23 from three-point range, with Bischoff (six) and Becki (five) combining for 11 of those 12 triples.

The first quarter was close throughout, but the Cardinals slowly pulled away in the second period, ending the half on a 19-2 run. BGSU used a 10-0 third-quarter run to get within 13 points, but a pair of Bischoff treys gave the Cards a 57-40 lead after 30 minutes.

BSU shot under 36 percent from two-point range on the night, going 14-of-39 from inside the arc, but the Cards' three-point success resulted in an overall field-goal percentage of 41.2%, to BGSU's 35-percent rate.

FIRST QUARTER
• The opening quarter featured four lead changes, as the teams battled back and forth in the early going. After the Cards opened the scoring with a foul-line jumper, Paige Kohler knocked down a three-point try. Lexi Fleming had the assist on the play, and moments later, Kohler returned the favor, finding the fifth-year Falcon for a three-ball and a 6-4 lead.
• Ally Becki answered with a trey to put the home team on top, and after a Johnea Donahue free throw tied the score, BSU scored back-to-back buckets, with Alex Richards and Becki giving the hosts an 11-7 lead.
• Kohler hit a driving layup, and a nifty bounce pass from Erika Porter found a cutting Amy Velasco for a layup that got the Falcons within 13-11, but Madelyn Bischoff and Becki each hit three-pointers to give the hosts a 19-11 lead after 10 minutes.

SECOND QUARTER
• Kohler scored on a nifty one-hander, and a Donahue putback cut BSU's lead to 21-15. Becki hit a three-pointer, and after Kohler answered with a right-wing three, Bischoff's corner three gave the Cards a 27-18 midway through the period.
• A nice take by Fleming resulted in a driving layup, but a Richards jumper was followed by a Becki triple. A steal and layup gave BSU a 38-20 lead late in the half.

THIRD QUARTER
• Velasco hit a layup as she was falling to the ground, and a Fleming run-out after a BSU miss cut the deficit to 39-24. But, the Cards hit two free throws, and a Bischoff three was followed by a Richard putback, giving the hosts a 24-point advantage.
• Kohler hit a pair of charity tosses, and Donahue converted a layup, but Marie Kiefer's three-pointer gave the hosts a 51-28 advantage with four minutes left in the period.
• BGSU battled back, however, scoring the next 10 points. Kohler fed Velasco for a triple, and Fleming took a Donahue pass and hit a rainbow three with a defender charging at her. Velasco's floater was followed by a Taya Ellis putback, getting BG within 13 at 51-38 with two minutes left in the quarter.
• But, Bischoff hit a corner three, and after a Fleming driving layup, Bischoff again scored from the arc, giving her team a 57-40 advantage.

FOURTH QUARTER
• Kohler's three-pointer opened the scoring in the final quarter, but Bischoff answered yet again. Fleming hit a quick layup to cut BSU's lead to 60-45, but the Cards then went on a 7-2 run. After a Porter offensive board and putback, Becki's three-pointer capped that run and gave BSU a 67-47 lead midway through the period.

UP NEXT
• BGSU will conclude a three-game road swing with a trip to Jonesboro, Ark. The Falcons will face Arkansas State on Saturday (Feb. 8), as part of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET at First National Bank Arena.

• Then, the Orange and Brown will return home to face Central Michigan the following Saturday (Feb. 15). That game will begin at 2:00 p.m. at the Stroh Center, and will be BGSU's Alumni Day, with many former Falcon greats expected to be on hand.

NEXT FIVE GAMES (all times Eastern)
Sat., Feb. 8 | at Arkansas State (MAC-Sun Belt Challenge) | 3:00 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 15 | CENTRAL MICHIGAN | 2:00 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 19 | at Western Michigan | 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 22 | TOLEDO | 7:00 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 26 | OHIO | 7:00 p.m.

FOR MORE INFORMATION...
• For more information on all things BGSU women's basketball, follow the Falcons on Facebook (@BGWBB), Twitter/X (@BGSU_Athletics and @BGSUWBB) and Instagram (@bgsuwbb), as well as right here at BGSUFalcons.com.