After a trip to Alaska, Wisconsin, South Carolina, and Louisiana, the BGSU women’s basketball team (2-4) returns to the Stroh Center for the first time this season to host Purdue Fort Wayne (4-3) on Sunday afternoon.
Pre-game coverage begins on WBGU 88.1 FM at 1:35 p.m. with Falcon Media Sports Network’s Ben Corak, Artie Abrego, and Sam Bork. Lucas Kleimeyer and Adam Duffin will be at the Stroh Center to call the 2:00 p.m. tipoff.
### Series History
The Orange and Brown lead the all-time series 5-0 over the Mastodons. Those matchups took place in five consecutive seasons from 2001 to 2005.
### Bowling Green Falcons
BGSU returns home after a six-game road trip that spanned four states, including two games in Alaska. Head coach Fred Chmiel is 2-0 so far as the Falcons coach in home openers.
The Falcons will look to make a statement at the start of a six-game homestand. One key area for improvement is shooting. So far, BG’s field goal percentage stands at 34%, ranking 338th nationally. Beyond the 3-point line, the Falcons are shooting just 22.2%, placing them 349th in the country.
Junior guard Paige Kohler will be relied upon to turn this trend around. She is leading the team with 14.5 points per game but is shooting 32.1% from the field, a noticeable drop from her 41.5% shooting a year ago.
Sophomore guard Johnea Donahue has elevated her offensive game this season. She is second on the team with 13.7 points per game and leads the Falcons with 3.7 assists and 3.2 steals per game.
Senior guard Emily Siesel made a strong impression in her first collegiate start, contributing eight points, three steals, and three assists. Junior guard Jasmine Fearne also joined the starting lineup recently. She attempted 13 three-pointers across recent games but made only two.
### Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons
The Mastodons come into the game having won four of their last five, with their only recent loss against Nebraska. Purdue Fort Wayne aims to defeat Bowling Green for the first time in school history.
Leading the charge is graduate forward Alana Nelson, who averages 14.6 points per game. Nelson has been efficient, shooting 50% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. In her first Division I season, she has emerged as a leader for the Mastodons.
Senior forward Jordan Reid complements Nelson well. Reid ranks second on the team with 11.4 points per game and leads with 5.9 rebounds per game. On defense, she impresses with 2.7 steals per game.
Freshman guard Rylee Bess is a key contributor too. She boasts a 53.3% shooting percentage from three-point range and scores 8.9 points per game. Her 3-point percentage ranks tied for 16th in the nation.
Junior forward Lili Krasovec stands out with a 70.7% field goal shooting average, ranking 5th nationally. Despite the Mastodons’ strong shooting overall, they rank 338th in free-throw percentage at 60.3%.
In their last five games, Purdue Fort Wayne has allowed just 65.4 points per game, while Bowling Green has averaged 63.2 points per game this season.
### Falcon Four Players to Watch
**Paige Kohler (Bowling Green No. 10, Junior Guard)**
Kohler has experienced an up-and-down start to the season. If BG hopes to be a top team in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), she needs to string together consistent performances. The home opener presents the perfect opportunity for her to return to last season’s success.
**Emily Siesel (Bowling Green No. 2, Senior Guard)**
Siesel made the most of her first career start in Alaska. As the Falcons seek a reliable third option alongside Kohler and Donahue, Siesel can continue making her case for an increased role.
**Alana Nelson (Purdue Fort Wayne No. 54, Graduate Forward)**
Nelson has impressed in her first Division I season. Coming off a 25-point performance on Tuesday, she will look to keep leading the Mastodons’ scoring efforts.
**Rylee Bess (Purdue Fort Wayne No. 2, Freshman Guard)**
Bess has been outstanding from long range in her debut collegiate season. Given Bowling Green’s struggles with transition defense and leaving shooters open, Bess is a player the Falcons cannot afford to leave unguarded.
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Sunday’s game promises to be an exciting showdown as Bowling Green seeks to establish momentum at home and Purdue Fort Wayne aims for their first-ever victory over the Falcons. Fans won’t want to miss it!
https://bgfalconmedia.com/174811/sports/womens-basketball-falcons-take-on-mastodons-in-home-opener/