Western Michigan Broncos (9-5, 1-1 MAC) at Toledo Rockets (6-7, 1-1 MAC)Saturday, Jan. 9, 2 p.m.Location: Toledo, Ohio (Savage Arena)
All-Time Series Record: Toledo leads 51-21, with the Broncos
Radio: 1660 AM The Fan with Garrison Diehl
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GET UP TO SPEED
The Broncos are 9-5 overall and 1-1 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and are coming in to this game as winners of seven of their last ten games. Most recently, the Brown & Gold earned a 74-45 win over Bowling Green in their MAC home opener. WMU started the season 7-2, equaling the best start in school history through nine games since the 1998-99 season. Its five-game winning streak was snapped by No. 8/9 Mississippi State at the Puerto Rico Classic, ending the longest winning streak since the 2008 season. Three of the five losses on the Broncos schedule have come against top-25 teams in No. 24 Michigan State, No. 20 Northwestern and No. 8 Mississippi State. The Broncos are also receiving votes in the Jan. 5 CollegeInsider.com Women's Mid-Major Top-25.
BOWLING GREEN RECAP
The Broncos dominated the game offensively and defensively on their way to a 74-45 win in their MAC home opener against the Falcons. The team allowed 24 points through three quarters of play, the lowest all season and also set a new season-low for turnovers in a half with four in the first half. The veteran duo of Jessica Jessing and Miracle Woods tied for the game-high with 17 points a piece while senior Deborah Meeks set a new career-high with 11 rebounds.
SERIES HISTORY
Toledo leads the all-time series 51-21, with the Broncos. Toledo is coming in having won three straight games including both regular season meetings last season. WMU is 8-26 when playing in Toledo, Ohio while head coach Shane Clipfell is 2-5 against the Rockets. The Broncos won both meetings of the 2014 regular season campaign but fell in the MAC Tournament.
JJ IMPRESSES
Senior Jessica Jessing, or “JJ” as Bronco fans know her, is off to a red-hot start in conference play averaging 18.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.0 block in both games of conference play. She is shooting 14-for-18 from the field including 6-for-8 from beyond the arc. She posted her second career double-double against Ohio on Jan. 2 with a career-high 19 points and 12 rebounds. She is tied for fifth in the MAC in points, second in field goal percentage, tied for second in 3-pointers made, tied for eighth in rebounding and tied for eighth in steals.
MORTON'S MILESTONE
Senior Alex Morton is just one assist away from hitting 300 for her career, a milestone nine former WMU alumni have reached in their career. Morton led the team with five assists against Bowling Green the last time out. She is tied for MAC lead with a 3.5 assist/turnover ratio and tied for ninth in total assists.
ROCKETS SCOUTING REPORT
The Rockets are coming in this game with a 6-7 overall record and a 1-1 record in the MAC after a 73-67 win over Kent State on Wednesday, Jan. 6. The team has won six of their last seven games and had a five-game winning streak snapped by Ball State to open up MAC play. Toledo has three players scoring in double-figures in senior Brenae Harris (13.2), senior Ana Capotosto (11.8) and junior Janice Monakana (10.7). Monakana leads the team with 6.2 rebounds a game and is tied for the team lead in steals with 15. Harris leads the team with 5.1 assists per game and also leads the MAC with 8.0 per game in MAC play.
