Box Score GREEN BAY- The Western Michigan women's basketball team fell to a quality Green Bay team Saturday on the road, 70-55. The Phoenix improved to 6-2 on the season, while Western Michigan slipped to 4-2.

The Broncos fell behind by 13 in the first half and the seasoned Green Bay squad squandered Western Michigan's attempts at a comeback in the second half. The Phoenix have been one of the premier mid-major programs, winning 16-straight Horizon League regular season titles.

“We came into an environment that we hadn't been tested in yet, that's a legitimate top-25 team,” said WMU head coach Shane Clipfell. “They are really tough to defend and really tough to score against.

“It felt like we were with them every step of the way even though they opened up that lead a little bit on us. But that is a good sign, we didn't cave in. In the first half if we would have taken away some of those turnovers we gave them that led to easy baskets and rebounded a little bit, it could have been a different story.”

Western Michigan junior forward Miracle Woods started for the first time this season and it was her presence on the floor that made a difference for the Broncos. WMU trailed 13-11 over the first eight minutes of the game, but the Phoenix were able to go on a big run after Woods went to the bench with two fouls. Green Bay outscored WMU by 11 points over the final 12 minutes of the period and led 34-21 at halftime. The Broncos scored five unanswered points at the end of the first half to help avoid a bigger deficit.

WMU continued to fight and cut Green Bay's lead down to single digits, 46-37, midway through the second half following four straight free throws by Michelle O'Brien. Green Bay leading scorer and last year's Horizon Freshman of the Year Mehryn Kraker shifted the momentum back to the Phoenix with a big 3-pointer and Green Bay went up by as many as 22 before closing out with a 15-point victory.

Woods led Western Michigan with a team-high 16 points, which also tied her season high. A.J. Johnson and Jazmine Windham each had eight points apiece. Johnson also had five rebounds, five assists and two steals, but also committed seven turnovers.

Allie LeClaire had a game-high 19 points for the Phoenix, followed by 16 points from Kraker. Green Bay outscored Western Michigan in the paint, 38-12.

The Broncos head to Ohio State next Sunday, Dec. 14 for another tough road test, facing the Buckeyes at 2 p.m.