AKRON, Ohio – The Western Michigan women's basketball team picked up its second straight victory in a midweek Mid-American Conference clash at Akron, using a strong fourth quarter to defeat the Zips 59-51 and improve to 12-8 overall and 5-3 in league play.

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"This season we have a tendency to put ourselves in tough fourth quarter situations," commented WMU head coach Shane Clipfell. "I give our players credit tonight, we have to rely on playing stiff defense and we have been able to deliver. I also am very pleased with how we responded in the second half after switching to a completely new offense that they executed very well."

Junior Deja Wimby once again was all over the box score, tying a team-high 13 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and five steals as the guard nearly missed out on the first ever triple-double in WMU program history. Junior teammate Breanna Mobley added 13 points, eight rebounds, six steals, three blocks and two assists while redshirt junior Jasmyn Walker tallied 10 points off 4-of-8 shooting to go along with six rebounds.

After trailing by three early the Broncos mounted a 13-2 run and forced five turnovers during a five-minute stretch, helping WMU lead by five at the end of the first period. The Zips turned around and garnered a run of their own, to take a two-point advantage just one minute into the second quarter and 26-24 lead into the break.

The Broncos came out of the gate quickly in the third using a 6-0 run to help seal a three-point lead heading into the final 10. Then the defense heated up, holding the Zips scoreless for over five minutes, as the Brown and Gold took a 7-0 run to start the fourth. Senior Najee Smith hit two clutch three-pointers to lift the Broncos in the period and seal the eight-point victory.

Western Michigan turned the ball over 18 times on the night, including 13 of them coming in the first half. Defensively WMU forced the Zips to commit 22 turnovers off 14 steals, led by Mobley's career-high six steals. As a team, Western Michigan shot 38.5 percent in the first half compared to 37.9 for the game. The Broncos dominated the paint, outscoring the Zips 34-16 and also notching 15 second chance points.

Heading into tonight's contest, Akron's Alyssa Clay hit 10 of her last 14 from three-point land but the Broncos held her to just 2-of-5 from behind the arc with 10 points. With the loss, the Zips fall to 6-12 overall and 0-8 in conference play.

The Broncos continue their mini road stand on Saturday, Jan. 27, traveling to MAC West leader Central Michigan, who owns an undefeated league record so far. Tip is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Mount Pleasant.