Just 25 minutes down the road from Bowling Green, home has never been far away for Lauren Gerken—but neither has her motivation.

The sophomore forward for the BGSU women’s basketball team isn’t just playing for wins; she’s playing in front of the same family, friends and community that shaped her love for the game in Findlay.

With Gerken living nearby, Bowling Green was always on her radar for her school of choice.

“It’s right up the road, only 25 minutes; it’s hard to pass up,” said Gerken. “Having a lot of my younger siblings still in high school playing sports… I chose to go somewhere close so I could go back to watch them play.”s