THE MATCHUP
Western Michigan (14-13, 7-8 MAC)
vs. Central Michigan (22-4, 14-1 MAC)

Series Record – WMU trails, 50-52
Date / Time – Feb. 24, 2 p.m.
Location – Kalamazoo, Mich. (University Arena)

BROADCAST INFORMATION
ESPN3
Radio – 1660 AM The Fan, Aaron Coyle
Live Stats – wmustats.com
Twitter Updates - @WMU_WBB

 PURCHASE
Online – wmubroncos.com/tickets
Person – Bronco Ticket Office
Phone – 1-888-4-WMU-TIX

SERIES HISTORY
The Chippewas lead the all-time series 52-50 and had won the last five matchups prior to the 2017 Mid-American Conference semifinals where the No. 8 seed Broncos upset No. 1 seed Central Michigan, 67-63, at Quicken Loans Arena. Saturday's contest is the second meeting this season with the Chips walking away with a 74-70 victory in Mount Pleasant back on Jan. 27. Western Michigan led in almost every statistical category but a 14-3 CMU run late in the fourth sealed the win. A key stat in the game was big difference in free throws as the Chips shot 30 compared to a mere seven attempts for WMU. Junior Breanna Mobley led WMU with 15 points and eight rebounds.

BRONCOS CLIPPED BY CARDINALS
Last time out, the Broncos dropped their third straight to the Ball State Cardinals, who currently sit third overall in the MAC standings, in Muncie, Ind. on Wednesday. Western Michigan's costly turnovers early proved to hurt as 14 of the 17 total came in the first half, leading to 23 points off turnovers for BSU on its home court. The Brown & Gold were held to a 35.1 shooting percentage compared to Ball State who shot 47 percent from the hardwood including 31 percent from behind the arc to help seal the victory. Two Broncos scored in double figures as junior Deja Wimby led with 13 points while junior counterpart Breanna Mobley added 10 for her 18th consecutive double digit scoring game.

FINAL STRETCH
Including Saturday, the Broncos play in Kalamazoo for back-to-back games before hitting the road for the final regular-season contest. The remaining three games of the regular-season are all against MAC West opponents, which doesn't bode well for WMU as the Brown & Gold are just 1-6 against schools in the division. Western Michigan is currently fourth in the west and seventh in the MAC overall standings and if the tournament started today the Broncos would host Kent State on Monday, March. 5.

LOOKING AHEAD
With just three games remaining in the regular season, it is crunch time for the Western Michigan women's basketball team. After Saturday, WMU welcomes Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 28 for "Senior Night" and the final regular-season home contest before heading to Northern Illinois on March 3 for the final game before the start of the MAC Tournament.

CATCHING UP ON THE BROWN & GOLD
The Broncos have the fifth ranked scoring offense in the conference, averaging 69.8 points per game, and sit fourth in the MAC in scoring defense with 66.5. At home this season, WMU has been stellar with a record of 8-3 averaging 76.7 points per game compared to just 64.7 on the road and a 5-8 record in unfamiliar territory. WMU has two players averaging in double figures with Breanna Mobley leading the way and tied for eighth in the conference with 16.0 points per game to go along with 8.4 rebounds, which puts her in fifth in the MAC. Deja Wimby averages 11.9 ppg and has been the floor general this season, dishing out a team-high 144 assists, good for 5.7 per game which is third-best in the league.

CHIPPEWAS SCOUTING REPORT
Central Michigan is coached by Sue Guevara in her 11th season and enter Saturday leading the MAC with a 22-4 overall record and a 14-1 record in the conference. The Chippewas feature five players who score in double figures, including two who are in the top-five amongst all players in the league. Tinara Moore, fourth in the conference, paces CMU with 19.5 ppg (4th) while Presley Hudson averages 18 a game, good for fifth. The Chips also boast the top-two players who lead the MAC in rebounds per game as Reyna Frost grabs 12.2 while Moore adds 9.5. As a team, Central Michigan leads the league in scoring offense (83.5) and is 11th is scoring defense (73.0).