KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Four players scored in double-figures as the Western Michigan women's basketball team won its seventh straight game of the season Saturday afternoon by defeating Bradley 83-64 at University Arena. The Broncos improved to 8-2 this season, the best start through 10 games under head coach Shane Clipfell. The team's seven-game winning streak is the program's first since the 2003-04 season.
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83 points scored by WMU was a season high as senior Meredith Shipman led the way with 22 points including five 3-pointers, which was a season-high for her. Sophomore Deja Wimby finished with her second career double-double, scoring a career-high 14 points and dishing out 10 assists. Wimby missed her first two field goals of the game, but went 7-for-7 the rest of the way. Sophomore Breanna Mobley finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 16 points, nine rebounds and added three blocks while going 8-for-11 from the free-throw line. Redshirt junior Marley Hill, who graduated on Saturday morning, was the fourth player in double-figures with 10 points. Junior Najee Smith, who entered the contest as the Mid-American Conference's leader in 3-pointer field goal percentage, scored eight points and went 2-for-2 from beyond the arc.
WMU outscored the Braves in every quarter and won the second half 48-34. The Broncos regained a lead early in the second quarter and never gave it up again, extending their lead to as high as 24 points throughout the game. The Broncos went 9-for-13 from the floor in the fourth quarter, including a pair of 3-pointers from Shipman.
The Brown & Gold won the rebounding battle 34-25 and shot 58.2 percent, which was also a season-high. The Braves were held to 43.4 percent shooting as each team went 7-for-15 from beyond the arc. WMU finished with 21 assists on 32 field goals and outscored the Braves 36-18 in the paint.
The Broncos will face their final nonconference opponent in Chicago State on the road on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. Following that game, the Broncos will host Akron on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 2 p.m. for the MAC opener.
