KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's basketball team will take the floor for the first time this season on Friday, Nov. 3 in exhibition play. Fans will get a look at the 2017-18 squad as the Broncos welcome Lake Superior State inside University Arena at 7 p.m.
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @WMU_WBB
THE MATCHUP
Western Michigan Broncos (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
vs. Lake Superior State (0-0, 0-0 GLIAC)
Friday, Nov. 3, 7 p.m.
Kalamazoo, Mich. (University Arena)
GAME NOTES
The Broncos return 11 letterwinners including three full-time starters in redshirt senior
Marley Hill, and juniors
Breanna Mobley and
Deja Wimby. Mobley lead the Broncos last season averaging 14.4 points with 9.9 rebounds and was honored to the Third Team All-MAC and the All-MAC Tournament Team. Wimby is coming off a tremendous season averaging 11.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and dished out a team-high 165 assists (5.2 per game). Hill started in all 32 games averaging 13.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and lead the team with 34 blocks.
WMU also brings back five players that started at least one game last season including senior
Najee Smith (18), senior
LaTondra Brooks (10), junior
Meredith Miller (2), junior
Aneisha Carlisle (2) and junior
Logan McCane (2). Expected to make an impact this season are transfer students
Jillian Fletcher (West Virginia State) and
Jasmyn Walker (Valparaiso), who both redshirted last season due to NCAA transfer rules.
Last season the Broncos finished 19-13 overall and 8-10 in the Mid-American Conference including an impressive 10-game winning streak in the nonconference season. The overall record falls just two victories shy of tying the school record for wins (21) set in 1978 and is the third straight winning season for the Broncos. The win streak is also the fourth longest winning streak the program has ever seen and longest in the last 20 years.
WMU advanced to the MAC Semifinal for the first time in school history since the 2003 season, after erasing a six-point deficit with 1:20 left to play, defeating top seed Central Michigan, 67-63, in the quarterfinals.
Meredith Shipman and Mobley were each named Third Team All-MAC and sophomore Wimby was named to the All-MAC Defensive Team.
The Broncos are coached by
Shane Clipfell who enters his sixth season at the helm. Western Michigan is 43-26 when playing at University Arena under Clipfell and the team has never finished with a below .500 home record in the past five seasons.
WMU officially opens the 2017-18 season on the road, traveling out west to New Mexico on Nov. 10 and to New Mexico State on Nov. 12. The Broncos home opener is set for Thursday, Nov. 30 when WMU hosts Olivet College at 7 p.m.
