THE MATCHUP
Western Michigan (12-8, 5-3 MAC)
at Central Michigan (15-3, 7-0 MAC)
 
Series Record – WMU trails, 51-50
Date / Time – Jan. 27, 1 p.m.
Location – Mount Pleasant, Mich. (McGuirk Arena)


Watch Live – ESPN3
Radio – 1660 AM The Fan, Kory Lee
Live Stats – cmuchippewas.com
Twitter Updates - @WMU_WBB
 
THE MATCHUP
The Chippewas lead the all-time series 51-50 and had won the last five matchups prior to the 2017 Mid-American Conference semifinals where the No. 8 seed Broncos upset No. 1 seed Central Michigan, 67-63, at Quicken Loans Arena. Najee Smith hit a three-pointer with 11.4 seconds left to give WMU its first lead of the game and former Bronco Meredith Shipman converted two free throws to seal the victory. Deja Wimby led the Brown and Gold with 17 points, seven assists and four rebounds. The Broncos hold a 24-22 advantage at home but are 21-25 inside McGuirk Arena against CMU.
 
BRONCOS WIN ON THE ROAD
Western Michigan picked up its second straight victory in a midweek Mid-American Conference clash at Akron on Wednesday evening. Using a strong fourth quarter to defeat the Zips, 59-51, the Broncos improve to 12-8 overall and 5-3 in league play. Three players scored in double figures led by Deja Wimby and Breanna Mobley each posting 13 points. Wimby just missed out on WMU's first triple-double in program history adding eight rebounds and six steals to go along with her 13 points. Redshirt junior Jasmyn Walker added 10 off 4-of-8 shooting. As a team WMU shot 37.9 percent from the floor and dominated the paint, outscoring the Zips 34-16.
 
CATCH UP ON THE BROWN & GOLD
The Broncos have the sixth ranked scoring offense in the MAC, averaging 69.2 points per game, and sit third overall in the league in scoring defense with 64.1. At home this season, the Broncos have been stellar with a record of 7-1 averaging 78.0 points per game compared to just 62.7 on the road and a 4-5 record in unfamiliar territory. WMU has three players average in double figures with Breanna Mobley leading the way with 15.9 points per game to go along with a team-high 8.5 rebounds followed by Deja Wimby with 10.5 and redshirt senior Marley Hill adding 9.8.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Broncos return home next week, playing the next three of the four games inside University Arena. The Broncos welcome reigning MAC Tournament champions Toledo for "Lunatics Night" on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. and Akron on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 2 p.m. for a pair of home matches next week. WMU will make a quick trip to Bowling Green (Feb. 7) before welcoming Ball State (Feb. 10) for its annual Play4Kay Pink Game.
 
BRONCOS HOLD THE UPPERHAND
During the season, the upperclassmen have led the Brown and Gold offense, accounting for 78.2 percent of the team's total points. Mobley leads the way with 15.9 points per game followed by junior Deja Wimby (10.5), redshirt senior Marley Hill (9.8) and redshirt junior Jasmyn Walker (8.2). On Saturday, Jan. 20 against Miami, the Bronco starting five in Hill, Mobley, senior Najee Smith, Jasmyn Walker and Wimby scored 78 of the team's 81 points, going 29-for-49 from the hardwood.
 
STAT SHEET STUFFER
After nearly missing out on WMU's first triple-double in program history at Akron, junior Deja Wimby has done a little bit of everything for the Broncos this season. The guard is second in scoring (10.5), second in rebounding (5.3) and leads the team in assists (5.4) and steals (2.3). She's had nine games of at least five rebounds/five assists and has scored in double figures in five of the last six games.
 
QUEEN OF CONSISTENCY
The newest WMU 1,000 Point Club Member Breanna Mobley has scored in double figures in all but three games this season as she leads the team in scoring (15.9 ppg), free-throw percentage (.776), field-goal percentage (.559), field throws made (90) and field goals (114). She has been doing it on the defensive end too, where she leads the team in rebounds (8.5) while placing second in blocks (15). The junior has made her mark around the country as well, ranking 23rd in offensive rebounds per game (4.0), 34th in field-goal percentage (.559) and free throws made (90) and 69th in rebounds (170).
 
CHIPS SCOUTING REPORT
Central Michigan is coached by Sue Guevara in her 11th season and is off to its best conference start since the 2013-14 season, leading the MAC West with a 15-3 overall record and a perfect 7-0 record in the league. The Chippewas feature five players in scoring double figures, led by junior Presley Hudson (17.9) and Tinara Moore (17.8) who are fourth and fifth in the MAC in scoring. Reyna Frost scores 14.3 ppg and comes in as the MAC's leading rebounder (12.7 rpg). As a team, the Chips lead the league in scoring offense (83.1) and are 11th in scoring defense (69.0).