BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- The Western Michigan women's basketball team defeated Bowling Green State University 63-60 Wednesday evening behind a game-high 19 points from graduate student Hannah Spitzley and 19 points from junior Marina Asensio. With the win, head coach Shane Clipfell became the women's basketball team's all-time wins leader with his 180th victory with The Brown and Gold.
During the first quarter, the Brown and Gold raced off to a 14-10 lead after recording an 11-5 run capped off by a jumper from Asensio with 3:10 remaining in the frame. Over the course of the quarter, Asensio, Alli Carlson, and Evyn Carrier scored field goals for the women's basketball team. Despite the hot start, the Falcons clawed back and took a 17-16 advantage into the second quarter.
In the second frame, neither team built a sizable advantage, as BGSU created a three-point lead with 7:53 in the half and WMU built a two-point lead with 6:41 remaining in the quarter after a layup from Lauren Audino. The Broncos and Falcons entered the break tied at 28 all after Carlson scored a buzzer-beating layup to enter intermission.
After the break, WMU built a four-point buffer after a jumper from Asensio and a layup from Spitzley. After falling behind 40-37 with just over four minutes to play in the third, Spitzley sank a deep three-pointer from an assisting Carrier, to tie the game up at 40 all. Despite WMU's efforts, BGSU closed the third quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 48-40 lead into the final quarter.
Facing an eight-point deficit, the Broncos shot a blistering 77.78% from the field in the fourth, including a perfect 3-3 from distance. To begin the final frame, Spitzley converted on an and-one, Carlson knocked down a pair of free throws, and Spitzley hit a jumper: The Broncos went on to record a 7-2 run over the first four and a half minutes of the frame to climb within three points of the Falcons. Facing a six-point deficit with 3:49 remaining in the fourth, WMU outscored BGSU 13-4 over the remainder of regulation, complements of nine points from Spitzley alone. After a game-tying jumper from Carlson with 45 seconds remaining, Spitzley made three free throws with 15 seconds remaining in the contest to ice the game.
Historical Notes
Spitzley improved her career three-point total to 110 treys and counting. The graduate student from Westphalia, Michigan ranks 11th all-time in three-pointers made in WMU women's basketball program history.
Up Next
The Brown and Gold will host Central Michigan University on Saturday, January 25 at University Arena for Alumni Day: Sponsored By Advia Credit Union. Tipoff is slated for 1:00 PM and the game will be available on ESPN+.
