On Sunday Dec. 1, the University’s women’s basketball team lost to Bowling Green University by a final score of 71-48. This was the final round of the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge at the MassMutual Center. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 0-7 on the season, whereas the Falcons improve to 7-1.
Senior forward Chevannah Paalvast led the way for the blue and white with 18 points. Sophomore guard Jasmine Walker added a career-high 13 points, six rebounds and two steals, and sophomore guard Jamiyah Bethune also contributed a career-high with seven points in the loss.
The Falcons, on the other hand were led by Deborah Hoekstra, who scored 18 points, while shooting 7-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-4 from the beyond the arc. Miriam Justinger added 16 points and five rebounds while Erica Donovan added 11 points. Jull Stein scored five points and contributed a game-high eight rebounds and four assists.
In the early stages of the game, both teams struggled to find offensive rhythm. Missed opportunities plagued both sides, but Bowling Green’s second-chance points enabled the Falcons to build a 12-6 lead, which included six points from Alexis Rogers.
The Hawks clawed their way back, lowering the deficit to two points. However, defense took over as the game remained 15-12 for nearly six and a half minutes. Hoekstra hit a three to end the scoring drought with 6:32 remaining in the first.
MU continued to battle, and with 1:56 left in the first half Walker landed a three to bring the Hawks within one. The Falcons scored the final five points of the half to enter halftime with a 30-24 lead. Paalvast led MU in the first with 10 points, with Walker adding eight points.
Bowling Green was led by Hoekstra who scored 11 points, including three baskets from beyond the arc.
The second half started with the Falcons on a 17-2 run ultimately putting the game out of reach. Bowling Green’s lead was as high as 34 points, when it was 71-37, with 3:53 left in regulation.
The blue and white went on an 11-0 spurt at the end of the game to finish 71-48. During that stretch, Bethune scored six points, while Walker hit a three-pointer and freshman center Sophie Beaudry made a pair of free-throws.
In the game, the Falcons outshot the Hawks, 44.3 percent (27-61) to 39.5 percent (17-43) from the field, 42.9 percent (6-14) to 27.3 percent (3-11) from beyond the arc and 84.6 percent (11-13) to 78.6 percent (11-14) from the free-throw line.
Bowling Green held the edge in rebounds 36-29. They also had an advantage in turnovers, forcing 21 and only committing 14. The Hawks were outscored, 26-8 in the paint, 17-5 off of turnovers and 19-4 on second-chance points.
“We’re going to try to narrow down some of the stuff they like to do, we are a team that’s going to try to change defenses. We need to get more efficient on the offensive end and I think that will be keep us in the game,” head coach Jenny Palmateer said in regards to her team’s future game plan.
The Hawks return to action on Saturday, Dec. 14 when they host the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds.
Tip-off from the Multipurpose Activity Center is scheduled for 3 pm.
