History rang true once again for the women's basketball team as it played Bowling Green Wednesday. Despite head coach Tracy Roller's predictions of a close game, the Cardinals defeated the Falcons 90-85 at Bowling Green.
"It wasn't even close to being a defensive game," Roller said. "We came out with a lot of defensive intensity and played well, but that was gone after five minutes."
With 21 3-point baskets made between the two teams, the Cardinals' (16-7, 10-3 Mid-American Conference) defense quickly endured the hot shooting of senior Francine Miller and the rest of the Falcons (10-13, 3-9). Miller scored a game-high 23 points.
"When you have the type of offensive potential that Bowling Green does, it's hard to do anything defensive," Roller said.
Senior Tamara Bowie had the task of defending Miller, and despite Bowie's 20-point, 12-rebound output, Roller said Bowie made more of an impact guarding Miller.
"They were really taking it at Bowie all night," Roller said. "Miller had most of her points without Bowie on her. It was really the first time all year that Bowie didn't fold when they came right at her. Francine was on track to have a great game and I thought Bowie did a great job stopping her."
As the Cardinals could do little on defense to stop the offensive onslaught, Roller said it was the play of her usual mainstays that pulled the team through. But as the game wore on, it was a different player stepping up to lead the team.
Roller said junior Jessica Reiter was the go-to player at the beginning, as she hit two key baskets to get the offense going. Bowie was solid all game and it was sophomore Kate Endress and freshman Dana Collins leading the charge at the end, each hitting key free throws to secure the win.
Collins hit seven free throws down the stretch to give the Cardinals the victory as she finished with 19 points and seven rebounds.
But as has been the story of the team all season, turnovers hampered the offensive progress of the Cardinals, as 20 turnovers repeatedly gave Bowling Green the chance to go on runs.
"When you hit 52 percent from behind the 3-point line, turnovers weren't that big," Roller said. "But 20 turnovers are 20 turnovers. And we can't keep doing that."
Roller has said all season how hard it is for teams in the MAC to win on the road. All the Cardinals can do is hope to sneak out with a victory.
"Tonight was definitely a steal," Roller said. "We would get a lead and we let it go. Bowling Green wasn't giving up, and for us to win was a big thing at this time of the year."
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