KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Western Michigan women's basketball team defeated MAC East leader Akron Saturday, 84-77. It was the first Mid-American Conference victory for WMU (5-12, 1-3 MAC) and the Zips' (12-5, 3-1 MAC) first loss in league play.

A.J. Johnson, Marquisha Harris and Miracle Woods all had career days. Johnson went off for 21 points, shooting 7-for-10 from the floor and 2-for-2 from behind the arc. She also had six rebounds and six assists.

Harris registered her first career double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds. She added two blocks and three steals. Woods chipped in a personal-best 15 points.

Western Michigan led nearly start to finish. Akron's Sina King made the first basket of the game, but WMU followed with six-straight points in the post on a layup by Woods and a pair of jumpers from Harris.

The Broncos built their lead up to 11 in the first and held onto a 38-32 advantage at halftime.

Akron and WMU both had scoring runs through the second period. The Zips cut the deficit to two with the first four points of the half, but Western Michigan pushed its lead back to 10 at the 15:43 mark. Akron continued to chip away from there and twice tied the game, at 8:37 and with 1:52 remaining.

WMU needed a play to turn the momentum after Akron tied the game in the final two minutes and Harris provided, hitting a tough left-handed jumper in the lane. The Broncos forced a turnover on the other end and Corie Buchanan drove to the hoop to give WMU a four-point lead. The Broncos converted seven of their eight free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.

Western Michigan shot a season-best 48.4 percent from the floor and made 13 of its 18 attempts from the free throw line.

WMU did what few teams have not been able to do against Akron this year, outrebounding the Zips by a double-digit margin, 41-31. Akron entered the game averaging almost four rebounds per game more than its opponents.

Hanna Lurburgh finished with 19 points and six rebounds for Akron, King had 18 points and eight boards and Rachel Tecca had 16 points and nine rebounds.

The Zips entered the contest with the top-ranked offense in the MAC and fifth-best defense.

The win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Broncos and was WMU's first win over Akron since Feb. 14, 2009, putting an end to a four-game skid against the Zips.

Western Michigan travels to MAC West opponent Northern Illinois Wednesday, for an 8 p.m. ET tip-off.