Box Score
CHICAGO- The Western Michigan women's basketball team (3-3) weathered all that Chicago State (2-5) could throw at them and walked away with a thrilling 74-71 victory on the road Monday, 74-71.
The Broncos have started to shown a poise the team didn't have last year, a season that saw the WMU drop 10 of its 23 losses by six points or less. The entire team was getting in on the action in Monday's win, with different Broncos rising to the occasion at critical times of the game.
Freshman Aurielle Anderson made up for early turnovers, stealing an inbounds pass, drawing a foul and knocking down the game-winning free-throws with 8.3 remaining. Senior Jenny Loney blocked what would have been the game-tying shot at the other end with 2.1 left and sophomore Miame Giden stole Chicago State's final inbounds pass. She too was fouled and sank the second of two free throws with four-tenths of a second left for a 74-71 Bronco win.
Senior Molly Dwyer hit two three's late in the game, the first with her team trailing by six points to keep WMU within one possession. She dialed in, making 4-for-4 from long distance and finished with 15 points and six rebounds. Dropping in the game-tying basket with 16 seconds left was junior Taylor Manley. If anything could be said about this win, it was a total team effort.
Junior Brenna Banktson also canned a crucial three in the final minutes of the game, scoring seven points of her 10 points in the second half. Giden led all scorers with 23 points, while also recording five rebounds and four steals.
Western Michigan jumped out to an early lead but couldn't maintain and fell behind in the second half. With WMU up 21-10, Chicago State called a timeout with 13:03 left in the first half. The Cougars went on an 11-1 run out of the timeout and the Broncos led just 35-31 at the half.
WMU had a hard time keeping the Cougars off the glass in the first half, being outrebounded 27-12. Chicago State was particularly dominate on their own end pulling down 16 offensive rebounds.
After shooting 51.9 percent in the first half, Western Michigan couldn't get back into the offensive groove. The Brown & Gold made just four field goals through the first 13 minutes of the second half. Turnovers also cost the Broncos possessions.
A fast break bucket gave Chicago State the lead for the first time with 10:39 to go in the second. The Cougars built a six-point advantage with 5:46 remaining and led by six again at 4:31.
Alyssa Waldon scored a team-high 19 points for Chicago State, and her sister Courtney Waldon had 11. The two sank five three-pointers, including three in the last three minutes that almost pulled off the comeback. Alyssa Waldon's three with 35 seconds put CSU ahead 71-69 before Manley's tying shot.
The score changed hands seven times during the night and was tied on seven occasions. CSU outrebounded WMU for the game, 41-32. Western Michigan only allowed the Cougars five offensive rebounds in the second half.
Western Michigan heads East this weekend to play No. 19 Pittsburgh on the road Saturday, Nov. 5 at noon. The game was originally scheduled for 2 p.m. but has since been moved up.
GAME NOTES: WMU's second win in a row and first back-to-back wins since Feb. 11 & 14 of 2009 ... sophomore Robin Giden scored her first points of the season in the first half ... Broncos made a season-high nine three-pointers in the game.
