KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's basketball is set for its first road contest of the 2018-19 campaign, taking on Southeastern Conference (SEC) opponent Ole Miss for the first time in program history. The Broncos and Rebels to set to tip-off at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18 in Oxford, Miss.

Thursday, Nov. 15 • 7 p.m. • Kalamazoo, Mich. • The Pavilion at Ole Miss (9,500)
Western Michigan Broncos (1-2, 0-0 MAC) at Ole Miss Rebels (2-1, 0-0 SEC)

Series Record: 0-0

BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Watch Live: SEC Network+

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LAST TIME OUT
Western Michigan moved to 1-2 overall with a 79-42 loss versus the University of Michigan on Thursday, Nov. 15 at University Arena. The Wolverines were efficient from the field, shooting 50 percent while converting 29-of-58 field goals. While the Broncos consistently found open looks, they struggled to find a shooting stride, going 15-for-56 from the field. The fourth quarter was a bright spot for WMU, as the Broncos outscored Michigan 17-14. Junior guard Kamrin Reed led the Broncos with a career-high 18 points, shooting 7-for-12 from the field and 3-for-6 from three-point range.

SERIES HISTORY
Sunday's game will mark the first all-time meeting between Western Michigan and Ole Miss. The Broncos are 0-12 all-time against members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The last time WMU faced a SEC school came during the 2015-16 season at the Puerto Rico Classic in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Broncos fell to then-ranked No. 8 Mississippi State University 90-68. 

SCOUTING OLE MISS
The Rebels are off to a 2-1 start to their 2018-19 campaign, most recently winning 62-55 over Temple at their home court on Wednesday, Nov. 14. As a team, Ole Miss shoots efficiently from the field with a 40.5 field goal percentage, converting 70-of-173 field goal attempts. The Rebels were selected to finish at the bottom of the SEC standings in the preseason coaches' poll. Redshirt senior Shandricka Sessom was named Preseason Second-Team All-SEC for the second consecutive year. Through three games, redshirt senior guard Crystal Allen leads the team with 17.7 points per game. 

CAREER-HIGHS SHATTERED
Through the first three games of the 2018-19 season, nearly each Bronco that has seen playing time has established at least one career-high statistic. Four out of five Bronco starters have already set career-highs in minutes played, while Leighah-Amori Wool and Kamrin Reed have both had career-high scoring performances. In the season-opener versus Purdue Fort Wayne, Wool scored 17 points to set a career-high, followed by 13 points from Reed. Wool followed up her season-opening performance with a 19-point, 11-rebound game versus New Mexico State to record her first career double-double. Reed then led the Broncos versus Michigan with a career-high 18-point performance. All three WMU freshman have also played minutes, led by Maddie Watters, who scored 16 points with five three-point field goals in her second collegiate appearance versus New Mexico State. 

WMU SIGNS THREE TO NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT
Western Michigan announced the signing of three future Broncos to National Letters of Intent (NLI) on Wednesday, Nov. 14. Ashley Konkle (Aurora, Ill. / Benet Academy), Sydney Shafer (Jackson, Mich. / Northfield), and Taylor Williams (New Baltimore, Mich. / Dakota) will be eligible to compete for the Brown & Gold starting in the 2019-20 season. Konkle, a 6-2 forward, was ranked 17th in the state of Illinois by Prep Hoops in 2018. Shafer, a 5-10 guard, led Northwest High School to its first ever regional championship last season while they fell short of a state championship as the runner-up while earning Interstate 8 League MVP, JTV Sports Player of the Year, and MLive Jackson Citizen Patriot Dream Team Player of the Year. Williams, another 6-2 forward, was ranked among the Top 15 players from Detroit and in the Top 30 in the state of Michigan by MLive.

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 became 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, while Jordan Walker and Breanna Mobley will both redshirt this season for medical reasons. Senior guard Deja Wimby returns as the floor general for the Broncos. A member of the 2017-18 Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List, Wimby led the team last season with 69 assists. Also returning is redshirt senior Jasmyn Walker, who each started the first 20 games last year before suffering a season-ending injury. 

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 Williamston 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 Stetson University Tournament in DeLand, Fla., Dec. 20-21, set to face North Dakota and Mississippi Valley State. The MAC schedule begins at Bowling Green on Saturday, Jan. 5.