BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by missed shots and critical turnovers, the Bowling Green Falcons edged the Fort Wayne Mastodons 56-53 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Sunday at the Stroh Center.

The contest, played on Nov. 30, 2025, saw both teams labor offensively, but the Falcons made key plays down the stretch to secure the victory and improve their season record to 3-4. Fort Wayne fell to an even 4-4 with the narrow defeat.

Bowling Green’s Johnea Donahue, a Fort Wayne, Indiana, native, delivered a complete performance against her hometown team. The 5-foot-8 guard logged 36 minutes, scoring 12 points while adding five rebounds and five assists. Her backcourt partner, Paige Kohler of Olmsted Falls, Ohio, led all scorers with 15 points in 38 minutes of action.

The game was ultimately decided by Bowling Green’s defensive pressure and dominance on the glass. The Falcons forced 19 Fort Wayne turnovers, converting them into 10 points, while committing 14 of their own. Bowling Green also recorded 12 steals and five blocks, with Kohler and Lauren Gerken each swatting two shots.

A significant disparity came in rebounding, where the Falcons hauled in 12 offensive boards compared to just five for the Mastodons, leading to multiple second-chance opportunities. Taya Ellis of Toronto was instrumental in that effort, pulling down nine rebounds in 26 minutes.

Fort Wayne was led by its international presence, 6-foot-3 forward Lili Krasovec of Budapest, Hungary, who scored 13 points. Alana Nelson of Springport, Michigan, also tallied 13 points for the Mastodons. Jordan Reid from New Palestine, Indiana, nearly secured a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds.

The game’s final moments were tense. With the score tight in the closing seconds, Donahue was fouled and calmly sank two free throws with three seconds remaining to extend the Falcons’ lead to three. Fort Wayne’s final attempt to tie the game was unsuccessful.

From a statistical perspective, the low-scoring nature of the game was reflected in both teams’ shooting percentages. Bowling Green made 21 of 60 field goal attempts for 35 percent, while Fort Wayne connected on 18 of 49 for 36.7 percent. Both teams struggled from beyond the arc; the Falcons hit just 6 of 29 three-point attempts, and the Mastodons made 5 of 16.

Bowling Green’s perfect 8-for-8 performance from the free-throw line proved crucial in a game decided by a single possession. Fort Wayne went 12 for 17 from the line.

The Falcons also shared the ball more effectively, dishing out 12 assists to Fort Wayne’s four. Donahue and Kohler were central to that ball movement, combining for seven assists.

Fort Wayne will look to rebound on the road against IU Indy on Wednesday. Bowling Green continues its homestand, also on Wednesday, against Kentucky State.