CHICAGO, Ill. -- For the first time since the 1994-95 season, the Western Michigan women's basketball team has won eight straight games as the Broncos defeated Chicago State 64-51 on the road Wednesday night. WMU improved to 9-2 on the season heading into Mid-American Conference (MAC) play, which begins on Saturday, Dec. 31 as Akron comes to Kalamazoo for the MAC opener. 

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The Broncos struggled early, trailing 18-11 at the end of the first quarter to give the team its largest first quarter deficit of the season. WMU bounced right back however, outscoring the Cougars 49-16 in the second and third quarters combined, including a 22-3 margin in the third. In the second quarter, WMU used a 14-1 to pull away that included 11 straight points by redshirt junior Marley Hill, who led the Broncos with 19 points. CSU made a late comeback, outscoring WMU 17-4 in the fourth quarter, but the Bronco lead was much too big to overcome. 

Hill is now the only player on the Broncos that has scored in double-figures in every game this season as she went 9-for-14 from the floor. Sophomore Breanna Mobley finished with her fifth double-double of the season and 11th of her young career. She had 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Senior Meredith Shipman finished with eight points and connected on a pair of 3-pointers while sophomore Meredith Miller went for eight points and six rebounds. Sophomore Deja Wimby finished with seven points, five assists and five rebounds. 

The Broncos outrebounded the Cougars 47-24 including an impressive 33-13 margin in the second half. WMU finished with 17 assists, 13 of which came in the first half.

The Broncos will take 10 days off for Holiday break, before hosting Akron on Saturday, Dec. 31 for the MAC opener.