THE MATCHUP
Western Michigan (8-6, 1-1Â MAC)
At Kent State (8-6, 1-1 MAC)
Series Record – WMU trails,
Date / Time – Jan. 6, 4:30 p.m.
Location – Kent, Ohio (M.A.C. Center)
Watch Live – ESPN3
Radio – 1660 AM The Fan, Aaron Coyle
Live Stats – wmustats.com
Twitter Updates - @WMU_WBBÂ
LAST TIME OUT
Western Michigan saw its four-game winning streak snapped at Buffalo on Wednesday evening as the Broncos dropped its first Mid-American Conference game 71-49. Junior Breanna Mobley was the only Bronco player to score in double figures with 12. The double digit game was her 11th this season and fifth in a row. Junior teammate Logan McCane had arguably her best game of the season off the bench, tying a career-high seven points going 3-for-6 from the hardwood in just 13 minutes. As a team, WMU was cold from the floor shooting just 19-for-62 including just 3-of-21 from three-point land while also turning the ball over 25 times that lead to 23 points for the Bulls.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Broncos return home next week welcoming Northern Illinois on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. and Ohio on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 2 p.m. Saturday's contest will also "Daddy/Daughter Day" and a doubleheader with the WMU men's program. Â
MOBLEY ON A MISSION
Junior forward Breanna Mobley has been a double-double threat each and every game since wearing the Brown and Gold uniform. The Lansing, Mich., native has recorded 25 double-doubles in 61 career starts, including six coming this season. In the Mid-American Conference opener against Bowling Green, Mobley finished with a game-high 13 rebounds including seven coming on the offensive glass. She also added 13 points with five coming from the charity stripe. Mobley has also scored in double-figures six of the last seven games and grabbed 10+ rebounds in five of the last six games. She currently is ranked eighth in the MAC with 15.5 points per game and her 8.6 rebounds per game is good for fourth in the conference.
TEAM MAC RANKINGS
As a team, WMU can be found in the conference's top-5 in many statistical categories throughout all games played this season. Those categories include scoring defense (T-3rd), scoring margin (5th), field-goal percentage defense (4th), 3-point field goal defense (1st), rebounding offense (3rd), rebounding margin (4th), blocks (4th), steals (5th), and assist/turnover ratio (1st).
INDIVIDUAL MAC RANKINGS
Individually, the Broncos boast four familiar names that can be found throughout the top-15 of statistical categories in the MAC. Junior Breanna Mobley is eighth in the conference for scoring (15.5), fourth in rebounding (8.6), second in offensive rebounding (4.2), tenth in defensive rebounding (4.4), seventh in field goal percentage (.537) and free-throw percentage (.797). Junior counterpart Deja Wimby is fourth in assists (4.9), 12th in steals (1.8), seventh in assist/turnover ratio (1.6) and 15th in defensive rebounds (4.2). Redshirt senior Marley Hill and sophomore Emma VanZanten are each tied for eighth in blocks (1.0).
THE MATCHUP
The Broncos and Golden Flashes first met in 1980, with this being the 57th meeting between the two. Although Kent State leads the all-time series 31-25, the Broncos have owned the recent history, winning four of the last five meetings. Last season, the Golden Flashes took the lone matchup 71-67 in Kalamazoo. WMU is 15-14 at home but only 9-17 inside the M.A.C. Center against Kent State.
GOLDEN FLASHES SCOUTING REPORT
Kent State, who is coached by second year head coach Todd Starkey, enters this game 8-6 overall, 1-1 in the MAC and is coming off a disappointing 81-79 loss at Northern Illinois after leading by eight with eight minutes remaining. The team is led by senior Jordan Korinek, the MAC's third leading scorer at 19.5 per game. Two other players average in double figures including Megan Carter (16.5) and McKenna Stephens (10.1), who averages 6.1 rebounds per game which is good for 13th in the conference. As a team the Golden Flashes are tied for third in the MAC with the Broncos for scoring defense, allowing just 62.7 points per game.
