BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – On Wednesday night inside the Stroh Center the Western Michigan women's basketball team fell to Mid-American Conference leader Bowling Green, 77-53.

The Broncos had three players score in double figures against the Falcons led by sophomore Sydney Shafer with 18 points. Shafer in her seventh start of the season was 6-of-13 from the field and knocked down three from long distance. Shafer also ranked second on the team with a seven rebounds, one shy of her career-high. 

Behind Shafer with 14 points was redshirt freshman Taylor Williams. In 31 minutes of action Williams was an efficient 7-of-12 from the field and led WMU with eight rebounds. Rounding out the double digit scoring was redshirt senior Reilly Jacobson with 10 points.

Jacobson was 3-of-9 from the field and 4-of-10 from the free throw line to go along with six rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block. The freshman duo of Hannah Spitzley and Megan Wagner combined to score 11 points for the Broncos. Spitzley matched her career-high with nine points while Wagner had two points and four assists.

As a team the Broncos shot 38.5 percent from the field and was just 4-of-20 from behind the three-point line. WMU was narrowly out rebounded 35-31 with the Broncos holding a 9-6 advantage on the offensive glass. WMU forced BGSU to commit 13 turnovers on Wednesday night, scoring 14 points off of Falcon mistakes.

Western Michigan has now lost two straight and drops its overall record to 2-9 and 1-8 in conference play. The Broncos return home on Saturday, Jan. 30 for a match-up against Ball State inside University Arena. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m.

It was a slow start for both squads as the Broncos and Falcons went a combined 2-of-15 from the field through the first five minutes of play. The game was tied at two before sophomore Sydney Shafer knocked down two free-throws to give WMU a 4-2 lead.

BGSU led 5-4 with under three minutes to play before embarking on a 11-2 run to gain a 13-6 advantage with 1:38 remaining. To end the half, the Falcons made four of their final five field goals as WMU missed its final five three-pointers to give BGSU a 16-10 lead after one.

Western Michigan clawed its way back in the second quarter and made six of its next seven field goals and embarked on a 9-2 run to cut its deficit down to one with 6:37 remaining in the first half. BGSU responded with back-to-back threes to spark a 14-3 run to extend their lead to double digits at 34-22 with under two minutes remaining.

Redshirt freshman Taylor Williams got hot for the Broncos down the stretch in the second quarter, making four of her final five field goals. Despite Williams' efforts the Broncos trailed 39-29 at half.

To begin the third quarter, it was a slow start for both teams as BGSU held a 44-31 lead after WMU went scoreless for over two minutes. The Broncos went on a 5-0 run midway through the third to cut its deficit to single digits before the Falcons responded with a three to extend its leas to 48-36.

The Broncos closed the BGSU lead to single digits late in the third thanks in large part to Sydney Shafer. Shafer made three of her final four field goals as WMU trails 56-47 heading into the fourth quarter.

WMU's offense cooled off in the fourth quarter as the Broncos were outscored 21-6 during the final 10 minutes of play. The Brown & Gold trailed 62-53 with under seven minutes remaining and was unable to make a dent into the Falcon lead down the stretch.

WMU went scoreless the final 6:57 of regulation as BGSU embarked on a 15-0 run to end the game and secure the home win.