Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan rolled over No. 12 NAIA opponent Davenport in exhibition play on Friday, Nov. 2, behind a 22-point effort from freshman Brenna Banktson and double-doubles by freshman Ebony Cleary and junior Tiera DeLaHoussaye.
“I think we spread the floor well, and shared the ball,” WMU head coach Ron Stewart said. “We got good shots and shot the ball well. I think we figured out after the first half how we needed to defend and did a much better job getting ball pressure and help off the ball in the second half.
“It was a good team effort, but it was very encouraging to see the play out of the two freshmen, Brenna and Ebony,” Stewart added. “Ebony gets a double-double and I feel like when we needed someone to step up, Brenna did that for us.”
Eighteen of Banktson's game-high 22 points came after halftime. The 2006 Miss Michigan Basketball was almost perfect in the second period, going 8-for-9 from the field and making her only free throw attempt. She finished the night shooting 10-for-13 from the floor.
Cleary displayed her athletic ability on both ends, pouring in 15 points and grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. She too was nearly flawless, shooting 5-for-6 from the field, while going 5-for-5 from the charity stripe. DeLaHoussaye paced the Broncos' up-tempo offense, dishing out 11 assists and scoring 10 points of her own.
Sophomore Sara Vest also reached double figures, chipping in 14 points, seven boards and four steals. Western Michigan owned the glass, out-rebounding DU, 54-31.
Every member of the Bronco squad scored, as the team shot over 51 percent for the game. Western Michigan built significant leads in both halves, only to see the Panthers claw their way back, before the Brown & Gold pulled away in the final seven minutes. WMU led at the half, 41-36, and had built an 18-point advantage with 12:05 to go, but Davenport pulled to within seven with 7:27 remaining. The Broncos closed out the victory with a strong finish, out-scoring their opponent, 28-7. Banktson scored 10 points in that span.
Four different players reached double digits for Davenport, led by 19 from First Team All-American Jeanette Woodberry. Kristin Boehm, Brittany Lyman and Lynne Blomberg tallied 14, 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Panthers made a total of eight three-pointers.
With its only exhibition game in the books, Western Michigan opens the regular season and its 14-game non-conference schedule at the Women's Sport Foundation Tournament, hosted by New Mexico, Nov. 9-11. During the trip to the Southwest, the Broncos will square off against the host Lobos, Northwestern and Dayton. WMU begins its 16-game Mid-American Conference schedule on Jan. 9, hosting Ball State at University Arena.
