Nov. 24, 2009
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ROCHESTER, Mich. - Senior Melissa Jeltema and freshman Bethany Watterworth each scored 14 points, senior Hanna Reising scored 13 points, and sophomore Sharise Calhoun scored 10 points, but it was not enough for the Oakland University women's basketball team (1-4) as Bowling Green (2-2) used clutch shooting, hitting at a 60.7 percent clip in the second half, as the Falcons picked up an 81-66 win over the Golden Grizzlies on Tuesday night at the Athletics Center O'Rena.
"I think Bowling Green showed why they have been MAC champions nine times and have made an elite eight," said head coach Beckie Francis. "They are a veteran team and they are well coached. Tonight they showed why they are so good. It was really hard to contain them."
Oakland opened scoring less than 30 seconds into the contest on a Jeltema layup, but Bowling Green quickly knotted the game and then pulled ahead with a 3-pointer by Tracy Pontius, who led all scorers with 23 points. After Jeltema hit a jumper to knot the game at 10-10 just under three minutes in, the Falcons went on a 13-2 run to pull ahead by 11 (23-12) with 10:30 remaining. Oakland cut the lead to single digits, and a 3-pointer by Reising with six seconds remaining in the half pulled Oakland to within five (35-30) at the intermission.
However, Bowling Green seized the momentum coming out of the gate, going on a 11-0 run to open the half and push their lead back to 16 (46-30) just over two minutes into the second half, and Bowling Green went on a tear, pushing ahead by as many as 24 (63-39) with 10:59 remaining.
However, the Golden Grizzlies fought back, narrowing the gap down the stretch and pulling the final margin to 15 after Calhoun hit a jumper in the paint with just two seconds remaining.
BGSU held a 50.0 percent to 46.6 percent advantage in shooting, and a 34-31 advantage on the rebounding glass. Bowling Green hit eight 3-pointers on the day, with Pontius sinking five. OU committed 21 turnovers to Bowling Green's 18, but held a 4-3 advantage in blocked shots.
Watterworth and freshman Victoria Lipscomb led OU with seven rebounds apiece. Lipscomb's total was a career high, while Jeltema set a new career high with five assists.
Oakland will return to action on Monday, Nov. 30 as the Golden Grizzlies host Marygrove. A 6:30 p.m. tip is scheduled.
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