Valpo Women drop season opener to Bowling Green

In their first game since March, the Valpo Women's Basketball Team hoped to start off on a high note against Bowling Green. That was not the case as the Crusaders fell to the Falcons 70-60 Sunday afternoon in Ohio. 

After a slow start by both sides, Bowling Green took a 13-8 lead after the first quarter. The second quarter saw the Falcons make eight of the first 11 points to increase the lead to double digits. Valpo responded with seven points of their own, including a three from junior Shay Frederick to pull within three at the halfway mark. 

The Crusaders cut the deficit to one point three different times, but could never take the lead. Bowling Green went into halftime leading 38-34. 

Senior Grace White got Valpo on the board 30 seconds into the second half with a basket and cut the lead to 38-36. A five minute scoring drought though proved disastrous as Bowling Green increased their lead to seven at the midway point of the third quarter. 

Bowling Green pushed the lead to 46-36 with under 3:00 to play in the third quarter before the Crusaders would score seven points in 48 seconds. 

Senior Marlee Profitt answered a Falcon three-pointer with one of her own. Then freshman Leah Earnest converted a fast break layup off a steal by junior Carrie Weinmann. Proffitt would then steal a rebound away from Bowling Green and put it in. 

An inside basket from Grace White in the final 40 seconds of the third quarter capped an 11-2 Crusader run and made the Falcon lead 48-47 to start the fourth quarter. 

The Crusaders were unable to continue the momentum as Bowling Green scored 13 points over the first five minutes to ultimately put the game out of reach for Valpo. 

Head Coach Mary Perry Evans said that getting the chance to play someone other than ourselves was exciting. She also said the team got careless in the fourth quarter and that cost them the game. 

Valpo continues its four game road trip with a stop in Champaign, Illinois to take on the Illini. Tipoff is slated for 5 pm on Wednesday. Fans can watch the game on Big Ten Netowork Plus or hear the game on WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso).