THE MATCHUP
Western Michigan (11-8, 4-3 MAC)
At Akron (6-12, 0-7 MAC)
Series Record – WMU leads, 29-9
Date / Time – Jan. 24, 7 p.m.
Location – Akron, Ohio (James Rhodes Arena)
Watch Live – ESPN3
Radio – 1660 AM The Fan, Aaron Coyle
Live Stats – wmustats.com
Twitter Updates - @WMU_WBB
THE MATCHUP
Wednesday's contest will be the first of two meetings between the Broncos and the Zips this season. The Brown and Gold lead the all-time series 29-9 and have won four of the past five meetings with the Zips, including three-straight. WMU is 11-7 on the road but snapped a four-game losing streak inside James Rhodes Arena last time out, defeating Akron 73-57 on Jan. 21, 2017.
BRONCOS SNAP SKID IN COMEBACK WIN
Trailing by 10 at the half, the Western Michigan women's basketball team mounted another comeback win on Saturday afternoon to defeat Miami, 80-71, snapping its two game skid and improve to 11-8 overall, 4-3 in Mid-American Conference play and 7-1 at home this season. After the win the Broncos are now 50-27 at home under WMU head coach Shane Clipfell. Both teams were on fire from the floor but the Broncos shot a staggering 55.6 percent with just 10 turnovers to go along with five steals. For the first time this season, four Bronco starters scored in double figures. Junior Breanna Mobley recorded her 1,000th career point after pouring in a game-high 23 points while junior counterpart Deja Wimby followed behind with 20 points. Redshirt senior Marley Hill added 18 while redshirt junior Jasmyn Walker tallied her first double-double as a Bronco with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
CATCH UP ON THE BROWN & GOLD
The Broncos have the sixth ranked scoring offense in the MAC, averaging 69.8 points per game, and sit third overall in the league in scoring defense with 64.7. At home this season, the Broncos have been stellar with a record of 7-1 averaging 78.0 points per game compared to just 63.1 on the road and a 3-5 record in unfamiliar territory. WMU has three players average in double figures with Breanna Mobley leading the way with 16.1 points per game to go along with a team-high 8.2 rebounds followed by Deja Wimby with 10.3 and redshirt senior Marley Hill adding 10.1.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Broncos return to the road this week, traveling to Akron on Wednesday, Jan. 24 and current MAC West leader Central Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 27. The next home contests for the Broncos will be next week, including reigning MAC champions Toledo for "Lunatics Night" on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. and Akron on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 2 p.m. inside University Arena.
BRONCOS HOLD THE UPPERHAND
During the season, the upperclassmen have led the Brown and Gold offense, accounting for 77.6 percent of the team's total points. Mobley leads the way with 16.1 points per game followed by junior Deja Wimby (10.3), redshirt senior Marley Hill (10.1) and redshirt junior Jasmyn Walker (8.1). Last time out against Miami, the Bronco starting five in Hill, Mobley, senior Najee Smith, Jasmyn Walker and Wimby scored five 78 of the team's 81 points, going 29-for-49 from the hardwood.
WIMBY'S RETURN TO THE MAC
Since the start of the Mid-American Conference season, junior Deja Wimby has been on a role. In seven games, she ranks tied for 17th in scoring (14.0), fifth in assists (5.0), tied for fourth in steals (2.7), and ninth in assist/turnover ratio (1.3). In conference games only the Fort Wayne, Ind. native has scored in double figures in all but two games, including two 20+ games. She scored a season-high 24-point performance against Northern Illinois and last time out against Miami she poured in 20.
1,000 POINT CLUB MEMBER
Breanna Mobley became the newest WMU 1,000 Point Club Member on Saturday, Jan. 20 against Miami. Prior to the game, the junior forward needed just four points to reach the milestone but instead she poured in a game-high 23 points. This year the Lansing, Mich., native has scored 305 points including a season-high 26 against Rutgers at the Florida Gulf Coast Showcase back on Nov. 25, 2017. In all 19 games this season, Mobley has also notched six 20+ games and has scored in double figures in all but three. She is also eighth in the MAC in scoring with 16.1 points per game this season.
THE MATCHUP
Akron is coached by Jodi Kest who is in her 12th year and is the longest tenured women's basketball head coach in the Mid-American Conference. The Zips enter the game in sixth in the MAC East with a 6-12 overall record and 0-7 record in the league. Megan Sefcik leads the team in scoring at 13.4 points per game while Haliegh Reinoehl dominates the glass for the Zips with 8.7. Akron ranks 10th in scoring offense (65.6) and eighth in scoring defense (65.7).
