Box Score

KALAMAZOO, Mich.– The Western Michigan women's basketball team (9-13, 2-6 MAC) downed Akron, 82-58, behind a second-half surge Saturday afternoon at University Arena.

Stepping up big for the Brown and Gold were Carrie Moore and Sara Vest, as Moore posted a game-high 36 points, to go along with eight rebounds. Vest set career-highs with 11 points and 34 minutes played.

Lindsey Brown and Tiera DeLaHoussaye were also major contributing factors in the win, recording 10 points apiece. Brown added eight boards, and DeLaHoussaye paced the offense with six assists and six steals. It was just the second time this season four of the five Bronco starters scored in double-figures.

Playing to four ties and 10 lead changes in the first period, the teams headed into halftime deadlocked, 35-35. The game continued to be a nip-and-tuck battle through the first eight minutes of the second half, until the Broncos got hot, red-hot.

With 11:26 remaining and the score tied, 47-47, DeLaHoussaye sparked a 26-6 WMU run, converting a steal on the break. On the on-suing possession, Vest fought off defenders to grab a Moore miss, and connected on the second-chance basket to give the Broncos a four-point advantage.

After Akron and WMU traded baskets the next two trips down the floor, Vest and Moore hit back-to-back lay-ups, extending the lead to eight, 59-51. The Zips would get one more bucket in before Western Michigan unloaded for a 11-0 run, keyed by a pair of free throws off an Akron technical foul and a back-breaking Moore three-pointer.

With 3:16 remaining, and the score, 73-53, in WMU's favor, Akron ended a three-minute scoring drought with a lay up. Returning to the other end of the floor, Moore put an exclamation point on the win, nailing her third three-pointer of the afternoon. The Brown and Gold bench came in and scored the final six points for the Broncos, sealing the 82-58 win.

The Broncos held the advantage in almost every statistical column on the day. The most detrimental to Akron may have been the 20 forced turnovers, as WMU scored 24 points off of Zip miscues, also outscoring Akron on the break, 12-4. Western Michigan out-rebounded its opponent 46-42, and shot 41 percent on the day, while its defense held the Zips to 32 percent shooting.

Nikki McCoy led the Akron (7-13, 0-8 MAC) effort with 23 points. Lauren Stephenson chipped in 11 points.

With no mid-week game scheduled, Western Michigan returns to action facing Kent State on the road, Saturday, Feb. 3. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.