MOREHEAD, Ky. – For the second time this season, Morehead State women's basketball had two players record double-doubles as redshirt sophomore
Gabby Crawford and sophomore
Ariel Kirkwood each poured in double-figure scoring and board efforts Saturday afternoon against Bowling Green. Unfortunately, the Falcons (5-1) nipped the Eagles (1-5) at Johnson Arena, claiming victory 76-61.
For Kirkwood, her double-double marked her second of the season as she poured in a team-high 17 points while corralling a game and career-high 16 rebounds. Her 16 rebounds also stood as the second time this season she's tied or eclipsed her career-high in boards, pulling down 15 or more rebounds. Crawford's double-double was her second of the season, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 boards.
Joining Kirkwood and Crawford in double-figures was junior
Ellie Jo Johnson whose 11 points against Bowling Green secured her a second-consecutive 10-plus point contest. The game also marked the third straight game she's shot 50 percent or better from the field (2-for-4) and the fourth straight game shooting 75 percent or better from the free throw line (6-for-6).
Defensively, Morehead State rejected 10 Falcon shots, turning away 10 or more opponent's shots for the third time this season. Leading the Eagles in blocks for the fifth time this season, registering five blocks on the afternoon.
After playing four times in five-days, Morehead State takes a break for the holidays before returning back to the court for the opening date of the non-travel partner portion of the Ohio Valley Conference schedule. The Eagles open that portion of conference play, hosting SIUE on Dec. 30. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET.
KEY MOMENTS
- After Bowling Green scored the first two baskets of the game, Morehead State provided a quick answer to regain the lead as Tomiyah Alford scored three points with a fastbreak layup and a free throw while Ariel Kirkwood added a pair of free throws in a quick 5-0 scoring spurt.
- Following the Eagle run, the Falcons used three separate, short scoring runs to take and extend a lead in the first quarter, getting production from behind the three-point line (three made threes) and the free throw line (eight made free throws) in the three runs.
- With a limited number of baskets scored in the second quarter, Bowling Green was able to extend its lead behind three made shots behind the arc while also getting a pair of layups on the fastbreak. The Eagles did own the paint in the second quarter, scoring eight paint points.
- Trading shots throughout the third quarter, Ariel Kirkwood cleaned the offensive glass before laying it back in with Gabby Crawford finding Jazzmyn Elston on an inside-out pass from the post for a three-ball, forcing a Bowling Green timeout. Out of the timeout, Kirkwood swiped one her two steals in the game before Crawford added a jumper to extend the Eagle run to 7-0 and cut the Falcon lead to single-digits.
- Sparked on the defensive end and behind a pair of steals and a block, Bowling Green's Lexi Fleming scored seven consecutive points to grow her team's lead, finishing a pair of fastbreak layups and connecting from behind the arc.
- The Eagles got one final run in the final four minutes of the game as Crawford earned her way to the free throw line for four free throws in the final four minutes of the game, converting all four of her attempts from the charity stripe.
KEY STATS
- Sophomore Ariel Kirkwood's 16 rebounds against Bowling Green marked the first time a Morehead State player grabbed 16 or more rebounds in a game since LaLa Humphries pulled down 19 rebounds at Belmont on Jan. 18, 2020.
- For the second time this season, Morehead State had two players record a double-double as Kirkwood (17 points and 16 rebounds) and Gabby Crawford (15 points and 10 rebounds) each collected a double-double versus Bowling Green. The game joins the Transylvania game as the two featuring a pair of Eagles with double-doubles.
- For the third time this season, Morehead State recorded 10 or more blocks, rejecting 10 Falcon shots Saturday. Through six games this season, the Eagles have out-blocked their opponent in each game.
- Morehead State converted 4-of-9 shots from behind the arc against Bowling Green, the team's most accurate game from long range this season.
