THE MATCHUP
Western Michigan (4-5)
vs. Detroit Mercy (0-7)
 
Series Record – WMU leads, 18-14
Date / Time – Dec. 8, 7:00 p.m.
Location – Kalamazoo, Mich. (University Arena)
ESPN3 – Devon Doxey, Mike Monaco
Radio – 1660 AM The Fan, Aaron Coyle
Live Stats – wmustats.com
Twitter Updates - @WMU_WBB
 
SNEAK PEAK AT THE BRONCOS
The Broncos (4-5), who have played eight of their nine games on the road, return home on Friday after taking Michigan State to the wire in East Lansing on Sunday, Dec. 3. In a game that came down to the final possession, WMU fell just short 65-62 as redshirt senior Marley Hill scored a game-high 16 points to go along with six rebounds. Redshirt junior Jasmyn Walker tallied her second double digit game of the season with 11 points while grabbing six rebounds and had a monstrous block in the third quarter off a breakaway.
 
Friday's game is the first of three-straight home contests for the Brown & Gold. Following Detroit, the Broncos welcome Kentucky State on Dec. 15 at 7:00 p.m. for their annual Santa Day and Toy/Food Drive before beginning Mid-American Conference play on Dec. 30 against Bowling Green.
 
FOOD DRIVE
The Broncos and the Western Michigan ROTC will be performing a food drive on Friday night against Detroit Mercy, with all donations going to the Invisible Need Project. Fans please make sure to bring only nonperishable items or cash.  
 
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
Western Michigan is 44-30 when playing at University Arena under head coach Shane Clipfell, including an impressive 12-2 record in the 2014-15 season. Clipfell's team has never finished with a below .500 home record in five seasons. Clipfell and his squad are also 6-0 in home openers. In 2016-17, the Broncos opened with a 6-1 record at home with the loss coming against No. 21 Michigan State in overtime. WMU finished the home season with a 73-66 win over Miami in the opening round of the MAC Tournament.
 
APPROACHING A MILESTONE
Redshirt senior transfer Marley Hill is just 5 points away from reaching 1,000 career points heading into Friday's game. In her second season with the Brown & Gold, the forward has averaged 13.3 points in 41 games for a total of 544 points with Western Michigan. Prior to her time at WMU the transfer played her first two seasons with Cincinnati, pouring in 451 points for the Bearcats.
 
100 FOR CLIPFELL
In his sixth season with the Broncos head coach Shane Clipfell is just three games away from notching 100 wins, holding an overall record of 97-95 heading into Friday's contest. Western Michigan has been on the rise since Clipfell took over the program prior to the 2012-13 season, as the Broncos have won 17+ games the last three seasons with Clipfell at the reins highlighted by a 20-13 record in 2014-15. WMU is coming off another successful season, notching a 19-13 overall record including an impressive 10-game winning streak during nonconference play. For the first time under Clipfell, the Broncos reached the MAC semifinals during the 2016-17 campaign defeating No. 1 seeded Central Michigan, 67-63.
 
WHERE WE STAND IN THE NATION
As of Thursday, Dec. 7, the Broncos are making national attention ranked in several categories during the 2017-18 season. As a squad, WMU is ranked 40th overall and first in the Mid-American Conference in total assists with 138. Junior guard Deja Wimby plays a key factor in the category as she is ranked 30th nationally with 47 assists and boasts 5.2 assists per game. On the boards, the Broncos have grabbed 362 total rebounds which is good for 46th in the nation and first in the conference while junior forward Breanna Mobley ranks 64th in the country in total rebounds and third in the conference with 74 in nine games thus far. 
 
BREAKING RECORDS
With the dominating 86-37 performance against Olivet College on Thursday, Nov. 30, the Broncos notched their highest margin of victory and allowed the fewest points in the Shane Clipfell era. The 49-point margin of victory is the third largest in WMU program history and the largest dating back to the 2003-04 season when the Broncos defeated Utah State by 51 points at home under head coach Ron Stewart. The last time a Bronco squad gave up 37 points or fewer occurred during the 2011-12 season under head coach Tasha McDowell as WMU defeated Southeast Missouri State, 67-34.
 
THE MATCHUP
Fridays' contest between Western Michigan and Detroit Mercy will be the 33rd meeting between the two schools. The Broncos lead the all-time series 18-14 overall and have won the last four meetings with the Titans. WMU holds a 10-5 advantage when playing at University Arena. In last season's meeting, the Broncos came away with a 75-65 win in Detroit as former player and WMU standout Meredith Shipman recorded her first career double-double to help seal the victory.
 
SCOUTING THE TITANS
Detroit Mercy, who is coached by third year head coach Bernard Scott, comes into the game 0-7 overall with three of those losses coming to Mid-American Conference opponents in Bowling Green, Kent State and Miami. The team is led by Brianne Cohen and Anjar Marinkovic, who score 17.1 and 10.4 ppg, respectively. Cohen also leads the team with 5.6 rebounds per game while Brittney Jackson leads the team with 15 total assists, good for 2.1 per game.