CLEVELAND, Ohio- The No. 5 seeded Western Michigan women's basketball team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2015 Mid-American Conference Tournament, defeating No. 9 seed Central Michigan, 81-68, in the tournament's opening game in Cleveland Wednesday.

The Broncos will play No. 4 seed Buffalo tomorrow at noon. WMU and UB split regular-season meetings, each team winning on the road.

Improving its overall record to 20-11 overall, WMU posted its first 20 win-season, as well as two MAC Tournament victories (also defeating Bowling Green in the first round Monday), for the first time since 2003.

It is just the fourth 20-win season in school history and the current Broncos are one win shy of tying the school record of 21, set in 1978.

Western Michigan post players Marquisha Harris and Miracle Woods gave the Broncos a one-two punch that was difficult for the Chippewas to handle. Harris shook off an ugly first half hand injury and totaled 17 points and nine rebounds. Woods followed with 16 points and nine boards.

Two other Broncos reached double-digit scoring. Senior A.J. Johnson was hot from the outside, knocking down four three's to record 12 points. Jessica Jessing picked up 11 points and eight rebounds. Jazmine Windham also helped stretch the defense, putting down three triples.

The Broncos had a season-high 24 assists in the game with point guards Alex Morton and Meredith Shipman dishing out six and five, respectively. The team turned the ball over just 10 times.

Western Michigan got off to a quick start and led by 15 at halftime, 42-27. Johnson buried three of her four three's in the first half. Harris had 11 points at the break.

The Chippewas fought back in the second half, cutting the deficit to seven with 9:33 remaining and trailing by nine with 7:55 left to play. The Broncos remained poised however and closed out the 13-point victory over their rival.

Western Michigan shot 50 percent from the floor in the game and held Central Michigan to 34.8 percent. Lorreall Jones had a double-double for the Chippewas with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Central Michigan concludes the season with a 13-18 overall record.