KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan women's basketball team's defense propelled the team to a 73-41 win over Ferris State Wednesday night at University Arena. On their way to allowing their lowest point total of the season, the Broncos improved to 8-4 overall and a perfect 4-0 at home as the team is heading into Mid-American Conference play on Saturday. The Bulldogs fall to 2-9 overall and remain 2-2 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The Broncos started off slow through the first half, taking a 29-16 lead into the break, but the team came out hot in the third quarter starting on a 15-2 run including a 10-0 run lasting just over 2:00. In the third quarter, the Broncos scored 28 points making it their season-high for points in a quarter.

"We struggled the first half, we were getting quality shots but they just weren't falling," Head coach Shane Clipfell said. "Our players knew it and I learned a long time ago players don't miss shots on purpose so it was just a matter of time before we started making those shots, in the second half we also made the extra pass. This was a game we needed to get under our belt, we were able to spread out our minutes and I'm really excited we scored 28 points in the third quarter."

The Bronco defense was stellar in the first half, holding the Bulldogs to back-to-back single digit scoring quarters, the second time this season the team has done so (Gardner-Webb). In the first half Ferris State was held to 24.1-percent from the floor while the Broncos shot 38-percent. The Broncos also set a new season-high in blocks with nine, all of which came in the first half.
In the second half, WMU improved to shoot 57.7-percent and bring its game total to 47.4-percent. The trio of junior Meredith Shipman, seniors Deborah Meeks and Alex Morton led the way shooting a perfect 9-for-9 combined in the second half alone.

Shipman led the Broncos in scoring finishing with 15 points going 5-for-6 from the field, including 3-for-3 from 3-point range. Shipman also led WMU in assists notching four to go along with one block and one steal. Meeks set a new career high in points with 14 and rebounds with seven. Meeks went 6-for-7 from the field while posting a career high in minutes played with 24. Morton finished with 12 points, making this trio finish 16-for-20 from the floor, including a perfect 4-for-4 from 3-point range and 5-for-7 from the free-throw line. Freshman Breanna Mobley chipped in eight while freshman Meredith Miller set a career-high with seven points and Miracle Woods scored seven as well.

For the Bulldogs, Rachel McInerney and Joslyn Nicholson each scored 14 points while McInerney tied for the team-high in rebounds with Alexis Huntey with eight. Ferris State finished with 23 turnovers, the second highest total the Broncos have forced this season and they capitalized on them, outscoring the Bulldogs 25-2 in points off turnovers.

The Broncos start MAC play as they head to Athens for a matchup against the team that was picked to win the MAC regular season and tournament. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 2.