Western Michigan Broncos (1-0, 0-0 MAC)
vs. #22 Michigan State Spartans (3-0, 0-0 B1G)
Nov. 18, 7 p.m., Kalamazoo, Mich. (University Arena)

Radio - 1660 AM The Fan with Garrison Diehl
TV/Live Stream - ESPN3
Live Stats - wmu.statbroadcast.com
Twitter Updates - @WMU_WBB

SEASON OPENER
Bronco head coach Shane Clipfell stayed perfect in season openers, as WMU defeated Davidson 76-63 in the two programs' first ever meeting. The Wildcats held a one-point lead at halftime, but the Broncos came back to outscore Davidson 46-32 in the second half to come away with the 13-point win. Sophomore Breanna Mobley scored a career-high 27 points, with 17 coming in the second half. Sophomore point guard Deja Wimby dished out a career-high eight assists while redshirt junior Marley Hill finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, recording a double-double in her first career game with WMU. 

FAMILIAR FACES
The Bronco coaching staff has many ties to Michigan State, as head coach Shane Clipfell was with current MSU head coach Suzy Merchant for over 14 years. He began with Merchant as an assistant at Eastern Michigan during the 1998-99 season and coached alongside Merchant at Michigan State for five years after Merchant took the Spartan helm in 2007-08. For the final three years, Clipfell served as the associate head coach at Michigan State. WMU assistant coach Cetera Washington played four years of basketball and coached for two with the Spartans, where she helped the team make three NCAA Tournament appearances as a player and two more as a coach. WMU assistant Coach Rick Albro also spent time as an assistant coach with Clipfell and Merchant at Michigan State. 

HOT START FOR MOBLEY
Sophomore Breanna Mobley, who was named the MAC West Player of the Week and the College Sports Madness MAC Player of the Week in the opening week,  picked up right where she left off last season, scoring a career-high 27 points and grabbing 11 rebounds against Davidson in the season opener. She was nearly unstoppable down the stretch of the 2015-16 season, where she finished with six double-doubles in the final nine games of the season. She ended the season with 9+ rebounds in nine of the final 10 games and scored in double-digits in seven of the final nine games. She finished second in MAC play in offensive rebounding (3.5 orpg) and fifth in rebounding (8.6 rpg). Mobley finished with a career-high 26 points against Northern Illinois (2/24) and had a career-high 17 rebounds at Northern Illinois (3/5). 

BONE MARROW DONOR REGISTRY
For the week of Nov. 14-20, Western Michigan and the Mid-American Conference are working with "Be The Match on Campus," a bone marrow registry initiative. Fans can find a table with volunteers in University Arena where they can sign up to help save someone's life. 

WELCOME TO THE BRONCOS
Three players scored their first career points for Western Michigan against Davidson, redshirt junior Marley Hill poured in 16 points while freshmen Emma VanZanten and Kamrin Reed scored six and two points, respectively. 

THE MATCHUP
The Spartans have owned the matchup in recent history, leading the all-time series 17-11 and have won seven straight games. The Broncos are 4-6 against MSU when playing at home. In last season's matchup, the Spartans came away with a 78-40 win in East Lansing, Mich.

IN THE GYM RANGE
Senior Meredith Shipman enters 2016-17 14th in career 3-pointers made (100) and eighth in career 3-point field goal percentage (.350). In early January, Shipman led the nation in 3-point field goal percentage and finished top-40 at the end of the season. She had multiple 3-pointers made in 20 games, including a 9-for-14 performance at Toledo where she set the school record for 3-pointers made in a single game. Shipman has made at least one 3-pointer in 13 straight games coming into 2016-17.

SPARTANS SCOUTING REPORT
The Spartans, who are coached by ninth year head coach Suzy Merchant, come into this game as the No. 22 ranked team in the nation. They boast a perfect 3-0 record with all three games coming at home. The Spartans are led by Tori Jankoska, who averages 21.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Taya Reimer averages 13.0 points and 9.7. MSU has won all three games this season by double-figures, including a win over Davidson, who WMU beat in its season opener.