Women's Basketball | November 13, 2019

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's basketball team opens a three-game home stretch on Thursday, Nov. 14, hosting Kentucky State University at 7 p.m. inside University Arena. 

Thursday, November 14 • 7:00 p.m. • Kalamazoo, Mich. • University Arena (5,421)
Kentucky State Thorobreds (2-0, 0-0 SIAC) vs. Western Michigan Broncos (0-1, 0-0 MAC)

Series Record: WMU leads 2-0
Last Meeting: Dec. 15, 2017 (WMU 85-50 in Kalamazoo, Mich.)

BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Radio • Bronco Radio Network • Watch Live: ESPN+ (Conor Clingen – PBP, Wayne Hinton – Color)

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LAST TIME OUT  
The Broncos team dropped a 76-55 decision to No. 25 Michigan in its season opener on Nov. 8 in Ann Arbor. Redshirt sophomore Jordan Walker led the Broncos with 14 points, shooting 5-for-21 inside the arc and dropping one of only two three-pointers made by WMU in contest. Senior Breanna Mobley totaled eight points and two rebounds and blocked a shot in the second quarter. Two Broncos made strides in their first nights in the Brown & Gold uniform as Sydney Shafer tallied 12 points and four rebounds, while Ashley Konkle led WMU with nine rebounds to go along with six points.

2018-19 RECAP
Last season the Broncos finished 10-20 overall and 4-14 in the Mid-American Conference. The Broncos finished fifth in the MAC West Division and ended their season in the first round of the MAC Tournament, losing a hard-fought battle to Northern Illinois, 70-69. WMU opened the conference season with an 84-82 win over Bowling Green before snapping a seven-game losing streak with their 71-68 win against Eastern Michigan in February. The Brown & Gold averaged 61.8 points per game, 32.4 rebounds per game and 12.0 assists per game with returners Leighah-Amori Wool and Kamrin Reed among the top scorers.

LOOK WHO'S BACK
The Broncos return seven letterwinners including three players back from being redshirted in the 2018-19 season- senior Breanna Mobley, sophomore Jordan Walker, and sophmore Kia Brooks. Mobley was named to the MAC Honorable Mention Team in 2018-19, finishing the season with 11 double-doubles and having scored in double figures in 27 games, including 24 consecutive. She also joined the 1,000 point club on March 3, 2018 in the game against Northern Illinois. Mobley was named to the Preseason All-MAC West Division Team for the second time in her career for the 2019-20 season.

NEWCOMERS
A total of four freshmen are making their appearances for the Broncos this season, with Aniya Walker (Pittsburgh, Penn. / Ambridge Area), Sydney Shafer (Jackson, Mich. / Northwest), Ashley Konkle (Aurora, Ill. / Benet Academy) and Taylor WIlliams (New Baltimore, Mich. / Dakota). Walker was ranked among the top 50 in the city of Pittsburgh and top 20 in Beaver County her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. Shafer is a two-time all-conference honoree, a two-time Team MVP and earned First Team All-State honors by Associated Press and The Detroit News, and holds the all-time scoring record at her high school. Konkle was ranked 17th in the state of Illinois in 2018, while Williams was ranked within the top 15 players in Detroit and top 50 in the state of Michigan by MLive. In addition, the Broncos added graduate transfer Chelayne Bailey to their ranks. Bailey spent three seasons at Syracuse, playing in 55 games and totaling 40 assists, 25 rebounds and 12 steals.

2018-19 SCHEDULE
The Broncos open on a trio of games at University Arena with the KSU matchup followed by Detroit Mercy on Nov. 20 and Florida Atlantic University on Nov. 24. Additionally, the Broncos will compete in two tournaments this season. The team travels to El Paso, Texas, for the annual UTEP Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 27 to take on the University of Texas-El Paso and New Mexico State. WMU faces Denver on Dec. 21 and Stony Brook on Dec. 22 in San Juan for the Puerto Rico Clasico.

THE MATCHUP
Thursdays' contest between Western Michigan and Kentucky State will be the third meeting between the two schools. The Broncos defeated the Thorobreds 85-50 last time out, and won their first ever game against the Thorobreds back in 2014. Three players scored in double figures that night as then-junior Breanna Mobley earned her fifth double-double of the season with a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds, propelling the Broncos to 3-0 at home so far that season.

SCOUTING THE THOROBREDS
Kentucky State, who is coached by fourth-year head coach and WMU grad Terrance Slater, comes into the game having won their first two games played at the Puerto Rico Clasico and are slated to win the West division of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Thorobrettes return six players that started at least 10 games last season, and have added five transfers and a true freshman to their roster this season. As a team the Thorobrettes are shooting 40.9 percent from the field and have outscored their opponents 130-94. Senior Amani Williams is shooting 84.6 percent (11-of-13) so far this season and has made her first five three-point attempts. Junior Allenia Ponder currently leads the team with nine assists and six steals.