CHICAGO- Despite shooting a season-high 43.6 percent from the floor, Western Michigan couldn't overcome a season-high 32 turnovers, falling to Chicago State on the road, 70-65.
Chicago State sat in a pesky 1-3-1 zone, trapping on the wings and limiting WMU's touches inside. Both teams were guilty of wasting possessions, the Cougars committing 29 turnovers of their own.
Corie Buchanan led WMU in scoring for the second-straight game, tallying 16 points, eight assists, five rebounds and five steals. Her first game back after missing the last two with a concussion, Robin Giden scored a career-high 12 points and tied a career-high with six rebounds. Freshman Courtney Haley also had her best performance with 13 points.
Jazmine Windham knocked down a three to start off the game, but that would be Western Michigan's only lead. The Broncos coughed the ball up 18 times in the first half, and CSU led 37-32 at halftime.
Chicago State stretched its advantage to 10, 60-50, with 6:23 remaining in the second half. WMU cut the deficit to five with a 7-1 run, only to have CSU score the next four points. The two sides traded free-throws and WMU trailed nine, 66-57 with 2:34 remaining.
WMU almost pulled off a comeback, scoring the next eight points over the next two minutes to pull within one with 25 seconds left. Buchanan scored three of WMU's four buckets during that span and assisted the fourth by Maria Iaquaniello. Buchanan also came up with two steals and two offensive rebounds.
Trailing 66-65 after a Buchanan putback, WMU pressured Chicago State into calling a timeout with 18.7 remaining. WMU fouled on the inbounds and Natalie Marlowe hit both free throws to put CSU back up three. WMU missed on the other end and CSU fired a full court pass for a layup at the final buzzer.
The win was the first for the Cougars (1-9), who after winning the first ever Great West Conference championship last year, had struggled through their first nine games this season. The loss drops WMU to 1-6 on the year.
Janay Dockery scored a game-high 27 points to pace Chicago State. Marlowe added 15 points and Paris Williams had 11. Former Bronco Jazzmyn Harvey (WMU 2008-09) chipped in eight.
The Broncos host Southeast Missouri State Saturday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. and then have a week-long break due to finals before heading to California for two games, Dec. 18 & 19. WMU will be collecting Toys For Tots at Saturday's home contest.
