BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (Interstat) — In a game defined by grinding defense and critical mistakes, the Bowling Green Falcons survived a late surge from the Western Michigan Broncos to secure a 67-63 victory in a Mid-American Conference women’s basketball clash Wednesday night at Stroh Center.

The contest, played before an announced crowd of 1,494, was a tense, back-and-forth affair where neither team led by more than seven points. It ultimately hinged on a decisive final minute where Bowling Green capitalized on Western Michigan turnovers and converted at the free-throw line to seal the win.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the closing 17 seconds with Bowling Green clinging to a 64-63 lead. Western Michigan, having fought back from a six-point deficit in the fourth quarter, had possession with a chance to take the lead. However, Broncos guard Nile Muguira Orbe had her pass stolen by Bowling Green’s Johnea Donahue with 19 seconds remaining. Fouled immediately, Donahue, a guard from Fort Wayne, Indiana, calmly sank both free throws to push the Falcons’ lead to 66-63.

On the ensuing inbound play, Western Michigan’s Alli Carlson was fouled and sent to the line for two shots with a chance to cut the deficit to one. Carlson, who played all 40 minutes, made the first but missed the second. Bowling Green’s Paige Kohler secured the defensive rebound and was fouled. Kohler, a guard from Olmsted Falls, Ohio, made one of two free throws with five seconds left for the final margin, as Carlson’s desperation three-pointer at the buzzer missed.

The game’s pivotal stretch underscored the statistical story of the night. Western Michigan committed 19 turnovers, which Bowling Green converted into 21 points. Conversely, the Falcons turned it over 12 times, leading to 16 Broncos points. Bowling Green also dominated inside, outscoring Western Michigan 30-18 in the paint and holding a 12-8 advantage in offensive rebounds.

Bowling Green (14-12, 8-5 MAC) was led by the backcourt duo of Donahue and Kohler. Donahue scored 14 points and added three assists, while Kohler contributed 16 points, three assists and three steals. Their steady play offset a strong interior performance from Falcons forward Taya Ellis of Toronto, who posted 13 points, several key rebounds and a block.

Western Michigan (7-17, 3-10) was paced by De’Ahna Richardson of Bolingbrook, Illinois, who scored 13 points. Alli Harness of Burlington, Indiana, provided a spark off the bench with 12 points, all from beyond the arc, hitting 4 of 8 three-point attempts. Kailey Starks of Evanston, Illinois, added 11 points. Carlson, despite an off-shooting night, dished out a game-high six assists.

The Broncos, who shot a respectable 41.7% from the field and 37% from three-point range, could not overcome their ball-handling issues or match Bowling Green’s efficiency from the charity stripe. The Falcons made 17 of 21 free throws (81%), compared to Western Michigan’s 13 of 16 (81.3%).

The first half set the tone for a defensive struggle. Bowling Green led 14-8 after a low-scoring first quarter and extended its lead to 25-23 at halftime despite shooting just 30% from the field in the opening 20 minutes. The third quarter saw both offenses find a rhythm, with each team scoring 23 points, allowing the Falcons to maintain a slim 48-46 edge heading into the final period.

Bowling Green built its largest lead at 58-52 midway through the fourth quarter following a three-pointer by Jasmine Fearne. Western Michigan responded with an 11-6 run, capped by a Richardson three-pointer with 4:29 remaining, to close the gap to 64-63. The Broncos would not score again, as their final three possessions ended in two turnovers and the missed free throw.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Bowling Green over Western Michigan, having also won 61-54 in Kalamazoo on Jan. 14. The Falcons now look ahead to a key conference matchup at home against Toledo on Saturday. Western Michigan, mired in a three-game losing streak, returns home to host Northern Illinois on Saturday.