KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's basketball team will take the floor for the first time during the 2018-19 campaign on Friday, Nov. 2, hosting an exhibition game versus Grace Christian. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. at University Arena. 

2017-18 Recap
Last season the Broncos finished 18-15 overall and 9-9 in the Mid-American Conference, finishing third in the MAC West Standings, the best finish since the 2014-15 season. WMU received the No. 6 seed in the MAC Tournament and upset No. 3 seeded Ball State prior to falling to No. 2 Buffalo in the semifinals. As a team, WMU scored the third most points in school history (2,308). Breanna Mobley become just the second player in Bronco history to collect 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds and was named to the All-MAC Honorable Mention team. 

Returners
The Broncos return 11 letterwinners from last year's roster, including their leading scorers in seniors Breanna Mobley and Deja Wimby. Mobley led the Broncos last season averaging 16.3 points per game with 8.3 rebounds. For a single season, she had the fifth highest points (538), tied for the fifth most rebounds (274), seventh highest field goal percentage (.556) and fifth highest free-throws made (135). Wimby was named to the 2017-18 Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List and was the floor general for the Broncos, leading the team with 69 assists. Also returning are Jordan and Jasmyn Walker, who each started at least 20 games last season. Jordan Walker and Breanna Mobley will both redshirt this season for medical reasons. 

Newcomers
A total of three freshmen will hit the court for the Broncos this season including Jacinta Gibson (Jeffersonville, Ind. / Jeffersonville), Maxine Moore (Southfield, Mich. / Detroit Country Day), and Maddie Watters (Williamston, Mich. / Williamston). Gibson was a three-sport athlete at Jeffersonville and led the Red Devils to their first conference championship since 2011 her junior year while being named First Team All-Conference and a finalist for the News and Tribune Player of the Year. Moore was an All-State player while winning three state championships at Detroit Country Day High School. Watters was an 1,000-point scorer at Williamstonston and was named All-State and the Lansing State Journal Player of the Year.

2018-19 Schedule
The Broncos officially open up the 2018-19 schedule with three consecutive home games, beginning Thursday, Nov. 8 versus Purdue Fort Wayne. WMU has 11 non-conference games on the schedule, headlined by matchups against Michigan and Ole Miss. Western Michigan will participate in the Steton University Tournament in DeLand, Fla. Dec. 20-21, set to face North Dakota and Mississippi Valley State. The MAC schedule officially begins at Bowling Green on Saturday, Jan. 5.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @WMU_WBB | FACEBOOK: @WMUWBB