PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A second-half comeback bid fell just short for the Bowling Green State University women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 21), as the Falcons dropped a 67-59 decision to Duquesne University at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.

Erika Porter scored 19 points for the Falcons (6-5), pacing four double-digit scorers. Lexi Fleming and Paige Kohler each added 12 points, while Amy Velasco scored 10.

For the Dukes (9-2), Andjela Matic had a game-high 20 points, with Kiandra Browne adding 15.

Matic hit a three-pointer just before the end of the first quarter to give the hosts a 20-15 lead, and DU held the Falcons to just six second-period points, taking a 40-21 lead into the half.

BGSU battled back, getting as close as six points late in the contest, but the Falcons could draw no closer.

The teams wound up shooting an identical 39.2 percent from the field, with both the Falcons and the Dukes going 20-for-51 from the floor. But, the hosts made 13 three-point field goals, including 10 in the first half, to the Falcons' seven.

Keiryn McGuff, making her first start in 11 months, had six points in the contest.

FIRST QUARTER
• The Falcons struggled with turnovers early on, but BGSU forced several turnovers themselves. After a Keiryn McGuff steal, Paige Kohler's pass found Erika Porter for a layup and BG's first points of the day. Another McGuff steal resulted in points for the Falcons as well, as Lexi Fleming spotted Amy Velasco for a three-pointer with the shot clock winding down, tying the game at 5-5.
• But, the hosts would score the next six points, with a Megan McConnell triple making it an 11-5 game. Velasco responded with five consecutive points, converting a driving layup, then knocking down a three-point try. A Kohler steal led to a Fleming three-pointer, and when that shot rattled home, the Falcons had an 8-0 run and a 13-11 lead.
• A four-point play by Kiandra Browne followed, however, giving the hosts a 15-13 advantage. Kohler faked a three-point try, dribbled inside the arc and hit a pull-up jumper, but Andjela Matic's three-pointer late in the period gave the Dukes a 20-15 advantage after 10 minutes.

SECOND QUARTER
• BGSU struggled offensively in the second quarter, going just 1-for-10 from the field. Neither team scored for over two minutes, before a McGuff free throw cut the BG deficit to four points. Mackenzie Blackford's corner three gave the hosts a 23-16 lead, and after Fleming hit a free throw, Blackford knocked down another long-range try. Then, a Matic three gave DU a double-digit lead, 29-17, and BG used a timeout.
• Matic connected from the arc again, and after a Porter free throw, Nadia Moore's trey was followed by a Matic reverse layup.
• Kohler answered with a three-pointer with just over a minute left in the half, but a late triple from Blackford gave the Dukes a 40-21 advantage at the intermission.

THIRD QUARTER
• McGuff fought through contact and hit a tough driving layup, and a three-point play by Porter cut the DU lead to 42-26 with just under 90 seconds gone. Velasco took a charge, and Kohler followed with a layup. After a free throw by the hosts, a nifty step-through move by Porter resulted in a layup that made it a 43-30 game.
• Velasco hit two free throws, and after BG got a stop, the Falcons converted a layup after a lob inside, but a travel was called and the basket was nullified. Then, Browne hit a layup to give the Dukes a 45-32 lead, and several minutes later, an airballed three-point try by the hosts went directly into the hands of Raymi Coueta, who laid the ball up and in for a 48-32 advantage.
• McGuff hit a free throw, but Browne answered with a three-pointer, and she knocked down another long-distance attempt late in the quarter to give the Dukes a 54-33 lead.

FOURTH QUARTER
• The Falcons shot 60 percent from the field in the fourth period and nearly erased that 21-point deficit entirely.
• Porter scored on a nifty one-handed shot, and Kohler sank two shots at the stripe. Then, Porter hit a reverse layup, and again scored inside to give the Falcons an 8-0 run and cut the DU lead to 13, at 54-41, as the Dukes used a timeout.
• The run reached 10-0 after a Fleming steal led to another Porter hoop. Matic stopped the run with a layup, and moments later, she hit a three-point try to give her team a 59-44 lead midway through the period.
• Fleming was fouled and made both resulting shots, and a nice offensive board and putback by Porter made it a 60-48 game. When Fleming connected from the top of the arc, it was a nine-point margin with 3:22 to go.
• The teams traded scoreless possessions, and after a Johnea Donahue steal, the freshman found McGuff for a layup that cut the DU advantage to 60-53 with just under two minutes remaining.
• The Dukes hit several free throws, but Fleming found Kohler for a three-pointer, then hit another long-range attempt herself. The DU lead was down to six, 65-59, with 24.2 seconds to go. But, after a BG foul, Browne made both free-throw tries to salt the game away.

UP NEXT
• After a break for the holidays, the Falcons will return to the road to begin Mid-American Conference play. BGSU will face Kent State on New Year's Day, with tipoff set for 1:00 p.m. at the M.A.C. Center.

• Then, the Orange and Brown will return home to face Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 4. That contest will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Stroh Center.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Wed., Jan. 1 | at Kent State | 1:00 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 4 | EASTERN MICHIGAN | 7:00 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 8 | BUFFALO | 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.