MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.- Facing its first road test of the conference season, Western Michigan fell at Central Michigan, 93-85, for its first MAC loss of the season. Maria Iaquaniello scored nine of WMU's first 12 points and finished the game with a career-high 26 points.

WMU frazzled Central Michigan at the get-go, starting the game with a 14-2 run and opening a 15-point advantage, 21-6, over the first six minutes. The Chippewas, playing their first home game in nine contests, settled in and cut the Broncos' lead to eight midway through the half. From there, CMU took over the rest of the period, outscoring WMU by 15. Taylor Johnson hit a three-pointer at 7:04 to give CMU the lead, 28-27, setting off three-straight three's by the Chippewas. Central Michigan went up seven, 34-27, and maintained the seven-point advantage at the half, 41-27.

Central Michigan scored 14 of the first 16 points of the second half, including back-to-back three's by Crystal Bradford to give CMU its largest lead of the game, 17, with 17:30 remaining. The six-foot Bradford proved to be the x-factor in the game. Bradford came off the floor with leg cramps minutes later and WMU proceeded to go on a 12-0 run in her absence. Bronco freshmen Julia Henson hit two three's during that stretch and WMU whittled CMU's lead down to four before Bradford checked back in around the 13-minute mark.

Bench players Courtney Haley and Marquisha Harris helped WMU pull even with 10 minutes left in the game. Haley hit back-to-back three's and Harris completed a three-point play after an offensive rebound to tie the score at 59-59 with 9:50 left. Jessica Green scored five straight points for CMU and with Bradford back on the floor, CMU's offense was again on track. The Chippewas pushed their lead back to double-digits with 6:28 remaining and much of the rest of the game was spent at the free-throw line.

Corie Buchanan followed Iaquaniello with 15 points for Western Michigan, adding seven assists and four rebounds. Henson hit three 3's for nine points and Michelle O'Brien had eight points, all in the first half. The 85 total points was the most scored by WMU this season.

Green led five players in double digits for Central Michigan (10-7, 2-1 MAC) with 22 points and seven rebounds, while Bradford had 20 points. Jordan LaDuke tallied 13, Jalisa Olive had 12 and Taylor Johnson chipped in 11.

WMU shot better than CMU in the game (46% to 40%), but committed more turnovers, 30 to CMU's 25. The Chippewas also had eight more attempts at the free-throw line, making 25-for-36, while WMU was 20-for-28.

Western Michigan (5-11, 2-1 MAC) heads to Eastern Michigan Saturday for a 2 p.m. tip-off against the Eagles,