THE MATCHUP
Western Michigan (2-2)
vs. St. John's (2-0)
 
Series Record - First meeting
Date / Time - Nov. 24, 11 a.m.
Location - Estero, Fla. (Germain Arena)
Watch Live – Flo Hoops
Live Stats – wmustats.com
Twitter Updates - @WMU_WBB
 
SNEAK PEAK AT THE BRONCOS
The Broncos (2-2), who have played all four games on the road, head to Estero, Fla., to conclude their extensive seven-game road trip with three games at the Florida Gulf Coast Showcase. WMU begins the bracketed tournament facing St. John's on Friday, Nov. 24. Western Michigan will await either reigning National Champions No. 3/2 South Carolina or RV Rutgers on Saturday before playing is final game on Sunday. The Broncos saw their two-game win streak snapped at Iowa last time out. WMU held Iowa to a season-low 79 points and held its star player Megan Gustafson to just 15 points. Redshirt senior Marley Hill scored in double digits for the second time this season, leading the Broncos with 12 points. Freshman Leighah-Amori Wool tallied a career-high eight points to go along with a career-high two assists and two rebounds. Following the three-game weekend, WMU returns to Kalamazoo for its home opener on Thursday, Nov. 30, hosting Olivet College.
 
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
As a team, the Broncos have proven to take care of the ball against their opponents this season. Through the first four games, WMU averages 10.5 turnovers per game which ranks them sixth in the nation and first overall in the Mid-American Conference. The Broncos also tally a 1.36 assist-to-turnover ratio per game, good for 43rd in the country. Junior point guard Deja Wimby leads the way with an impressive 5.50 assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranks her 15th out of 249 players in the country and first overall in the conference.
 
SISTER SISTER
The Walker sisters in redshirt junior Jasmyn Walker and freshman Jordan Walker have made big impacts in their first four games with the Brown & Gold. Valparaiso transfer Jasmyn, sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, is tied for second on the team with 11.0 points per game. Jasmyn led the Broncos at Loyola-Chicago, pouring in a career-high 20 points. During her senior year at Mona Shores High School, Jordan was named Michigan's Miss Basketball. The freshman is the fifth highest scoring player on the roster, averaging 8.3 points to go along with 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists this season. The freshman scored a career-high 11 points in her first game in a Bronco uniform at New Mexico.
 
#POSTUNIT
As a whole, the Western Michigan post unit including redshirt senior Marley Hill, freshman Leighah-Amori Wool and sophomore Emma VanZanten have shot 35 percent (6-for-17) from outside the arc in their last three games. The dynamic three shot 60 percent at New Mexico State including Hill's crucial three down the stretch to help seal the Bronco victory while Wool and VanZanten tallied their first career three-pointer against the Aggies. Wool has gone 4-for-10 from three-point land nailing at least one three in the last three contests, including two at Iowa to help her record a career-high eight points.
 
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Backed by double-doubles from junior Breanna Mobley and redshirt senior Marley Hill, Western Michigan picked up its first win of the season at New Mexico State. Hill recorded her third career double-double off a game-high 20 points and a career-high 12 rebounds while Mobley notched her 20th career double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. In just four games of the early season, together the two average 22.75 points and 15.5 rebounds. Mobley leads the Broncos this season with 11.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game and ranks 48^th nationally in total rebounds (36).
 
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SHOWCASE
The 2017 Florida Gulf Coast Showcase runs from Nov. 24-26 at the Germain Arena in Estero, Fla. The Broncos will compete in three games in three days in an eight-team bracket that features both a consolation and winner's side. WMU will clash with St. John's in the opening round on Friday, Nov. 24 and will meet the winner between reining National Champions No. 3/2 South Carolina and NR/RV Rutgers on Saturday. The third and final game for the Broncos will occur on Sunday.
 
The other side of the bracket includes 2017 NCAA Elite Eight finisher No. 6 Notre Dame as well as NCAA tournament team No. 17 South Florida and also includes East Tennessee State and Washington State, who reached the WNIT Semifinals. The showcase began in 2013 with past winners including Middle Tennessee, UConn, Stanford and most recently Baylor.
 
THE MATCHUP
Friday's contest will be the first meeting between the Broncos and the Johnnies. Tipoff is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. inside Germain Arena.
 
THE RED STORM SCOUTING REPORT
St. John's enters the tournament with an overall record of 2-0 this season, averaging 82.5 points and are shooting 47.3 from the field including a .500 mark from three-point land. Leading the offensive attack for the Johnnies is freshman guard Qadashah Hoppie who averages 18.5 points while four other players average in double figures including senior forward Maya Singleton who is averaging a double-double through the first two games (12 rebounds & 11 points). Preseason All-Big East pick junior Akina Wellere enters Friday's contest averaging 17.0 points and 4.0 rebounds for the Red Storm. Head coach Joe Tartamella is the eighth coach in program history and is in his fifth year at the helm of the Red Storm.