KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan University women's basketball team took it down to the wire in a close 61-54 loss to the Bowling Green Falcons.

The Broncos forced a slew of fouls in the final two minutes to get back within five points. But it wasn't enough for WMU to overcome Bowling Green's 40% shooting night. Sophomore guard Kailey Starks and senior guard Alli Carlson carried the bulk of the load on offense for the Brown and Gold, with both players scoring in double figures. Starks had her second 20+ point performance of the season to lead Western Michigan. While Carlson was right behind with 18 points on 54% shooting.

Both sides found its shots behind the arc early with five threes between the two squads in under five minutes. The lead was swapped seven times in that span, with the Broncos staying on top or tied until the final two minutes of the quarter. Carlson led WMU on the floor in the first ten minutes with two treys while four other players added two points. But an eight-point run for Bowling Green with just over three minutes on the clock put the Brown and Gold down by six. Western Michigan got a late layup to get back within four before the first quarter expired.

The Bronco offense had a cold start to the second quarter as the Falcons grew their lead to seven. Starks ended the drought with her first three of the night at 6:25. BGSU made two more threes after Starks, which WMU was able to counter with a layup and a shooting foul. The Brown and Gold's defense shutdown the Falcon offense towards the end of the half, keeping Bowling Green to only three points in the final five minutes. A seven-point run to end the half for Western Michigan put the Broncos within a point going into the second half.

It was back-to-back scoring to start the half in University Arena. The Falcons had two straight threes' that WMU cut into with a trey of its own. But the three pointer from sophomore guard Alli Harness was the Brown and Gold's last shot of the quarter, as Bowling Green took a 14-point lead into the final quarter.  

Western Michigan opened the fourth on a four-point run, getting its deficit back to 10. But it returned to a back and forth scoring game over the next three minutes, with the Falcons getting back up to 13. With a little under four minutes left in the game, the Broncos broke out an eight-point run for a five-point game. While WMU put together its run up to the final minute of the contest, Bowling Green had the final two points for the 61-54 score.

Three Brown and Gold players had five rebounds each to make up almost half of the team's presence under the glass. Western Michigan just edged out the Falcons in the rebounding game with 31 boards to BGSU's 30. The Broncos also beat Bowling Green on second chance points with a clean 10 after offensive rebounds.

WMU continues its two-game homestand this weekend on Saturday afternoon. The Brown and Gold will face off against the current MAC scoring leader, Ball State. Tip-off on Jan. 17 against the Cardinals is set for 1:00 p.m. from University Arena.