BOX SCORE
KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Broncos (5-17, 1-8 MAC) suffered a tough 79-77 overtime loss to Bowling Green (20-2, 9-0 MAC) in front of a packed house of 2,078 fans at University Arena on Saturday.
Western Michigan had a chance to take the win at the end of regulation and battled the league-leading Falcons down to the wire. Tied 72-72 with 16 seconds left, Western Michigan had the ball at half court and ran a play for Tiera DeLaHoussaye. Miame Giden grabbed her miss, but her attempt rolled off the rim as well. Ebony Cleary fought off the crowd and grabbed a second offensive rebound fighting off the crowd, but could not convert either.
Both teams had trouble getting baskets to fall though the first half of the overtime period, and the game was tied for the 10th time with 49 seconds to play, thanks to a free throw from Cleary. On the ensuing Falcon possession, Jenny Loney came up with a big strip on Lauren Prochaska as she attacked the basket. The Broncos called their final timeout with 31 seconds left to step up a last play. As they worked the ball around the arc, Prochaska was able to step in front of a pass and raced to a lay up on the other end.
The Broncos turned the ball over on their next possession, forcing the team to foul Prochaska, who sealed the win with a pair of free throws.
Free throws were the deal breaker in the game, as Bowling Green dropped in its attempts and the Broncos missed out. The Falcons were 17 for 21 from the line while WMU was just 9 for 19.
The Broncos trailed by six at the half, 37-31, but got back into things with a 10-0 run to open the period and outscored the Falcons in the second half, 41-35. Western Michigan dominated the inside, outscoring BG in the paint, 44-22, and outrebounding the Falcons, 43-38. Over half of the Broncos' rebounds were offensive, as they got 24 second chance opportunities, 10 of which belonged to Cleary.
Cleary finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, recording her third double-double of the season. Four other Broncos Tiera DeLaHoussaye (18 points, seven assists), Miame Giden (15), Brenna Banktson (12 points, eight rebounds) and Jenny Loney (11 points, eight rebounds, five steals) joined her in double figures.
Prochaska led all scorers with 27. Tara Breske picked up a double-double with 14 rebounds and 11 points.
Western Michigan takes to the road next, traveling to Ohio Wednesday, Feb. 11. Tip off is at 7 p.m.
