Women's Basketball | March 02, 2018

THE MATCHUP
Western Michigan (15-14, 8-9 MAC)
vs. Northern Illinois (15-13, 7-10 MAC)

Series Record – WMU trails, 37-24
Date / Time – Feb. 28, 7 p.m.
Location – Kalamazoo, Mich. (University Arena)

BROADCAST INFORMATION
ESPN3
Radio – 1660 AM The Fan, Aaron Coyle
Live Stats – http://www.sidearmstats.com/niu/wbball/
Twitter Updates - @WMU_WBB


THE TIPOFF
Western Michigan travels to DeKalb, Ill., for the final game of the regular season on Saturday for a 2 p.m. ET tipoff. The Broncos defeated Eastern Michigan on Wednesday at home to lock up a first round home game in the upcoming Mid-American Conference Tournament first round on Monday, March 5. Depending on the outcome of Saturday's games around the league, WMU could be either a No. 6, 7 or 8 seed.

SENIORS SET RECORD
WMU's five seniors: LaTondra Brooks, Aneisha Carlisle, Marley Hill, Alexis Parks and Najee Smith became the program's all-time winningest class this Wednesday with WMU's win over Eastern Michigan. It was the 71st career win for the group, passing the 1978 and 1981 seniors who both tallied 70 wins as a class.

SERIES HISTORY
Western Michigan holds a 37-24 lead in the all-time series with the Huskies, however is 14-16 when playing in DeKalb. The Broncos have won four of the last six meetings and six of the last 10 meetings. In the first matchup this season, WMU claimed a 88-83 victory in Kalamazoo on Jan. 10. NIU's last win over the Broncos was last year in the MAC Tournament semifinals, 83-55. NIU also took the meeting in DeKalb last year, 67-62.

LEADING THE CHARGE
Junior Breanna Mobley is averaging 15.7 ppg and 8.3 rpg, both of which lead Western Michigan and rank in the top 10 in their respective categories in the MAC. Fellow junior Deja Wimby is also scoring in double figures with 11.5 ppg and leads WMU with 156 assists and 63 steals. She is also chipping in 4.8 rpg. Senior Marley Hill is averaging 10.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg and has a team-high 23 blocks.

NOTES FROM LAST GAME VS. EMU
Freshman Jordan Walker tied a career high with 16 points and had four rebounds, four assists and two steals. Junior point guard Deja Wimby tallied her fifth career point-assist double-double, notching 11 points, a career-high 12 assists, seven rebounds and five steals. Senior Marley Hill recorded 16 points and three rebounds and junior Breanna Mobley chipped in 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Wimby's 12 assists were the most by a Bronco since Taylor Manley handed out 15 against Miami in 2011.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS SCOUTING REPORT
Northern Illinois, who is coached by Lisa Carlsen in her third season, enters the game with a 15-13 overall, 7-10 MAC record and are 7-4 at home this season. The Huskies won just two of their first 10 MAC games, before turning things around and winning five of their last seven. NIU has won two in a row and defeated Toledo in DeKalb Wednesday, 89-79. NIU is also one of two teams (joining Central Michigan) to defeat Buffalo this season. NIU has four players averaging in double figures, including junior Courtney Woods, who leads the MAC with 22.3 ppg and is also producing 8.0 rpg and has 88 steals. NIU has the third-highest scoring offense in the MAC, averaging 77.9 ppg.