BOWLING GREEN — An unfortunate and ugly scene transpired at the Stroh Center immediately following Bowling Green State University’s women’s basketball game against Memphis on Thursday.
But a significant Falcons’ win will be remembered by the Bowling Green community for a long time, as well.
BGSU's Elissa Brett was punched by Memphis' Jamirah Shutes in the handshake line following a WNIT game.pic.twitter.com/9xboGgKJv5
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 24, 2023
BGSU used a 28-8 advantage in the third quarter to knock off Memphis 73-60 in the Super 16 of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. The Falcons (30-6) reached 30 wins in a season for just the third time in school history, and they reached the WNIT quarterfinals for only the second time (2014) in eight tournament appearances.
“Great night for the Falcons, our fans, our community, our student section. I thought we played some really good basketball to beat a really good Memphis team, and our defensive effort was outstanding,” BGSU coach Robyn Fralick said.
An exciting night for BGSU turned violent when Memphis fifth-year senior guard Jamirah Shutes punched BGSU senior guard Elissa Brett in the postgame handshake line. Brett fell to the floor, was down for a minute while being attended to by BGSU players and coaches, and eventually walked back to the locker room with the team.
Players and coaches from both teams went back to their respective locker rooms without any more handshakes or incidents. The Stroh Center crowd was irate, and police made their way onto the court.
Fralick had little to say about the altercation in the postgame media interview. When asked about the scene, Fralick said, “We’re still kind of figuring all those things out what happened.”
When asked about an update on Brett, Fralick said, “We’re still figuring all that out, too.”
Late Thursday night, BGSU’s athletic department released a statement saying the incident has been turned over to the BGSU Police Department.
“Bowling Green State University Athletics does not make comments about active police investigations. Our priority is with the health, safety, and support of our student athletes,” according to the news release.
BGSU, which became the fifth Mid-American Conference team to reach 30 wins in a season, advance to take on Florida at 6 p.m. on Monday at the Stroh Center. Florida beat Clemson 73-63 in the Super 16 on Thursday night.
Memphis finishes its season 22-11.
A short-handed BGSU team played outstanding defense — especially in the first three quarters — in taking a 58-31 lead. Amy Velasco’s 3-pointer off a pass from Allison Day pushed the lead to 30 early in the fourth quarter.
The Falcons were playing without junior guard and Mid-American Conference defensive player of the year Nyla Hampton, who had a walking boot on her right foot. Fralick said Hampton’s status going forward is “day by day.”
Velasco, a 5-foot-7 sophomore guard, played nearly 39 minutes filling in for Hampton. Velasco had nine points and six assists and found enough energy to finish the game when Memphis was full-court pressing the entire fourth quarter.
“I can’t wait to have her back, to say the least,” Velasco said.
Day had 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while Brett had 13 of her 15 points in the third quarter and pulled down six rebounds.
Jocelyn Tate (14 points, six rebounds) and Lexi Fleming (10 points, six rebounds) also scored in double figures for the Falcons. BGSU shot 41.8 percent overall (23-of-55) from the floor and 76.9 percent (20-of-26) from the free-throw line.
Shutes led Memphis with 13 points. Hannah Riddick and Madison Griggs each had 12 points, and Destiny Thomas pulled down 11 rebounds.
Memphis, one of the top rebounding teams in the country, had a 46-41 advantage on the glass. The Tigers had 20 offensive rebounds, but only a 15-12 advantage in second-chance points.
“We knew that part of their offensive game plan is offensive rebounds, so we knew that going into the game ... and I think a big part of it was once they did get an offensive rebound, don’t quit playing,” Day said. “We’ve got to have our hands up, contest the next shot, and then box out again, if we can. So I think that was a big part of it.”
Memphis shot just 20 percent (9-of-45) in the first three quarters before finishing at 29.2 percent (19-of-65) overall. The Tigers were 15 of 25 from the free-throw line, including 9 of 12 in the first quarter.
First Published March 24, 2023, 12:29 a.m.
