KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's basketball team is set to head east on Interstate 94, ready for a contest with in-state rival Eastern Michigan University of Saturday, Jan. 12. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 12 • 2:30 p.m. • Ypsilanti, Mich. • Convocation Center (8,784)
Western Michigan Broncos (7-6, 1-1 MAC) at Eastern Michigan Eagles (7-6, 0-2 MAC)

Series Record: Eastern Michigan leads 47-45
Last Meeting: Feb. 28, 2018 (WMU 74-66 in Kalamazoo, Mich.)

GAME NOTES: WESTERN MICHIGAN | EASTERN MICHIGAN

BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Radio • WQLR 1600 AM The Fan Flagship (Kalamazoo/Portage) - Aaron Coyle (PBP)
Watch Live: ESPN3 

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

LAST TIME OUT
A slow start haunted Western Michigan during its Mid-American Conference home opener on Wednesday, Jan. 9, falling 72-59 versus the University of Akron. The Brown & Gold struggled to find a shooting stride early as they were limited to 1-for-12 mark from the field in the first quarter while Akron opened the game on a 14-2 run and maintained the lead for the remainder of the game. The Zips outscored the Broncos 15-2 in second chance points, out-rebounding WMU 45-30. Western Michigan shot 38.2 percent from the field (21-of-55) while tallying double-digit makes from beyond the arc for the fourth-straight game, going 11-for-27 from long-range.

Logan McCane had a career performance, stepping up in the absence of Bronco starters Deja Wimby and Leighah-Amori Wool. Playing in a career-high 33 minutes, McCane scored a career-high 11 points off 4-of-7 shooting from the field, headlined by a 3-of-5 mark from three-point land in the first half. Meredith Miller and Maddie Watters also converted a trio of three-point field goals each, tallying 10 and nine points, respectively. Jasmyn Walker led WMU with seven boards

SERIES HISTORY 
Saturday's contest will mark the 93rd all-time matchup between Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan, with the Eagles owning a slim 47-45 series advantage. In the last 10 contests, WMU and EMU are deadlocked at 5-5. Last season, the two teams split the season series, both winning their respective home matchups.

LAST 10 MEETINGS: 5-5

Date, (Home/Away), Result
1/15/2014 (A) L, 77-83
2/26/2014 (H) W, 81-72
1/28/2015 (H) W, 83-56
3/4/2015 (A) L, 65-74
2/6/2016 (A) L, 66-70 (2OT)
3/2/2016 (H) L, 52-63
1/14/2017 (A) W, 76-67
2/18/2017 (H) W, 70-60
1/17/2018 (A) L, 67-69 (OT)
2/28/2018 (H) W, 74-66

CLIPFELL RENEWS TIES WITH EASTERN
Shane Clipfell was an assistant coach with the Eagles from 1999-2007 and earned a degree from EMU in 2006. In nine seasons at Eastern Michigan, Clipfell helped build the Eagles into one of the top programs in the MAC. EMU compiled a record of 160-103 (.608), including three 20-win seasons, three postseason appearances and two MAC West Division titles. The 2003-04 team claimed the MAC West Division and MAC Tournament championship for the first time in school history, earning the program's first-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament en route to a 22-8 record. Clipfell was the acting head coach at EMU for all but four games of the 2006-07 season, guiding the Eagles to a 13-12 record and a second place finish in the MAC West with an 11-5 record. In his seventh season at WMU, Clipfell is 6-7 versus Eastern Michigan.

SCOUTING THE BRONCOS
The Broncos head into the MAC Opener having won four of their last five games, including three victories outside of their home court. Following the first road win of the year at Detroit Mercy (Dec. 9), WMU went 2-1 during its Florida trip (Dec. 16-21) while earning wins at Florida Atlantic and against Florida A&M in the Stetson Hatter Classic. WMU eclipsed the .500 mark with a New Year's Eve win over Saginaw Valley State to improve to 6-5 overall. Seniors Deja Wimby and Jasmyn Walker lead the Brown & Gold. Wimby paces WMU with 12.6 points per game while Walker leads the Broncos with an average of 6.5 rebounds a game.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Eastern Michigan took Buffalo into overtime on Wednesday in Ypsilanti, Mich., falling 91-84 while Danielle Minott tied a Convocation Center record with 43 points. As a team, the Eagles offensive and defensive numbers stack up similarly to the Broncos, averaging 62.7 points per game and 60.9 poinst against (5th/MAC). Minott, a redshirt senior leader for EMU, ranks 11th in the MAC with an average of 15.4 points per game.

LAST YEAR IN THE MAC
Last season, the Broncos 9-9 overall during 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.

CLIPFELL TIED FOR THIRD IN ALL-TIME IN WINS AT WMU
Head Coach Shane Clipfell, who recently eclipsed the 100-win mark versus Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 28), moved into a tie for third place in all-time coaching wins at WMU during the victory over Saginaw Valley State. His 104 career wins in his seventh season at the helm matches Jim Hess' (1982-90) career win total.

BALL SECURITY 
The Brown & Gold have turned the ball over just 165 times through 13 games in 2018-19, which ranks as the sixth fewest in the NCAA in the best in the MAC. Western Michigan's 12.7 turnovers per game also ranks as No. 1 in the MAC and ranks among the top-15 in the nation. In addition, WMU's turnover margin of 4.6 ranks second-best in the MAC and is tied for 33rd best in Division I.

FROM BEYOND THE ARC 
The Broncos went 11-for-27 from three-point range versus Akron, marking the fourth consecutive game with double-digit three-pointers made. It is the first time in at least 14 years that Western Michigan has totaled double-digit makes in at least two-straight games. WMU has recorded double-digit three-pointers in five games this season, which is more than the previous two seasons combined.

WALKER NEARING CAREER MILESTONES
Redshirt Senior Jasmyn Walker is 21 points shy of 1,000 and just a pair of rebounds away from 700 in her career. After accumulating 679 points and 499 rebounds during two seasons at Valparaiso University, Walker transfered to WMU and has totaled 300 points and 199 boards as a Bronco.