BOWLING GREEN — Bowling Green State University’s women’s basketball team built a 15-point lead midway through the fourth quarter and held on to edge Southern Mississippi for a season-opening 71-67 win on Monday at the Stroh Center.
The Falcons built a 59-44 lead with 6:20 left when Lauren Gerken’s 3-pointer took a soft bounce and went in, but the Golden Eagles pulled within 69-67 with 4.7 seconds left after a pair of free throws from Nyla Jean.
Taya Ellis, a 46.7 percent free-throw shooter last season, sank a pair at the line with 3.2 seconds left to give the Falcons a four-point lead.