Box Score KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan women's basketball team got a much needed conference road win over Bowling Green 65-49 Wednesday night at the Stroh Center behind freshman
Breanna Mobley's first career double-double.
WMU improves to 14-10 overall while getting even in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) at 6-6. The Broncos also improved to 13-0 when leading after three quarters of play. The Falcons fell to 8-12 overall and 4-7 in the MAC. This is the first Broncos win in Bowling Green, Ohio since the 2007-08 season.
"It was a real team effort tonight after we struggled mightily in the first half," head coach Shane Clipfell said. "The team stayed composed and kept playing together in the second half. I'm really proud of our team and really proud of the effort and the way they competed tonight."
The Broncos started the game out hot connecting on their first four field goal attempts including 3-pointers from seniors Alex Morton and Jessica Jessing. After WMU started 4-for-4, the team went cold from the field hitting two of its next 20 field goal attempts and going scoreless for nearly 7:00. The Falcons took a 27-22 lead into halftime where the Broncos were 2-8 when trailing after one half coming into this game.
The Broncos opened the second half out hot jumping out to an 8-0 run thanks to a Meredith Shipman and-one along with Morton hitting a layup and a 3-pointer. WMU outscored the Falcons 24-10 in the third quarter to take a 46-37 lead into the fourth quarter where they would not surrender the lead. WMU outscored the Falcons 43-22 in the second half behind the tough defense.
Mobley finished with 12 points and new career highs in rebounds (12) and assists (5). Senior Deborah Meeks led the Broncocs with a career-high 15 points and grabbed five rebounds while Jessing finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and a career-high three blocks. Morton was the fourth WMU player in double-figures with 11 points to go along with five assists. Junior Meredith Shipman finished with a career-high six steals, which was also the highest by any WMU player this season.
As a team, the Broncos shot 44.8-percent from the floor while holding the Falcons to 31.5-percent. WMU finished with just nine turnovers and 13 assists while holding forcing 13 Bowling Green turnovers. Bowling Green won the rebounding battle 38-37.
Next up the Broncos host Akron on Saturday, Feb. 14 in the annual Play 4Kay game. If 2,000 fans are in attendence, head coach Shane Clipfell has vowed to turn his hair pink in support of breast cancer awareness.
