Women's Basketball | December 13, 2019

KALAMAZOO, Mich. –  The Western Michigan women's basketball team hosts their final home game of 2019 on Saturday, Dec. 14 against Chicago State University. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside University Arena.

Saturday, Dec. 14 • 2:00 p.m. • Kalamazoo, Mich. • University Arena (5,421)
Chicago State University Cougars (0-10, 0-0 Western Athletic Conference) vs. Western Michigan Broncos (4-3, 0-0 MAC)  
Series Record: WMU leads 13-3
Last Meeting: Dec. 21, 2016– Chicago, Ill. – WMU 64, CSU 51

BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Live Stats:  wmustats.com
Watch Live: ESPN3 
Radio: Bronco Radio Network

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

LAST TIME OUT
The Western Michigan women's basketball team dominated on the road with an 80-52 win against the University of Illinois-Chicago. WMU shot 41.5 percent from the field, converting a season-high 34-of-82 field goals. They out-rebounded the Flames 47 to 42, notching a season-high 22 offensive rebounds. The Broncos' 25 assists and 15 steals were also good for new season bests. All 11 active players saw time on the court with 10 scoring at least three points. The WMU bench came up big, outscoring the UIC bench 24-23. Aided by a strong defense, the Broncos tallied a season-high 22 points off turnovers, earning 17 fast break points with a season-low 13 turnovers. Breanna Mobley posted her fifth double-double of the season with a game-high 16 points along with 13 rebounds. Jordan Walker added 15 points for Western Michigan while pulling down eight rebounds and eight assists to fall just shy of a triple-double.

THE MATCHUP
The Broncos are 13-3 all-time against Chicago State, one of their best opponent records to date. WMU has snatched the last five victories in matchups against the Cougars, their most recent being a 64-51 win in Chicago on Dec. 21, 2016.

SCOUTING THE BRONCOS
The Broncos are now 4-3 overall, heading into Saturday's matchup with a 28-point victory over the University of Illinois-Chicago. Freshman Sydney Shafer made her first career start in the Brown & Gold, tallying ten points, four rebounds, and a career-high eight assists. Breanna Mobley continued her streak as the MAC's leading rebounder, notching a double-double with 16 points, 13 rebounds. Two freshmen made strides in their rookie seasons, Aniya Walker posting a new career-high seven points and five rebounds, and Ashley Konkle grabbing eight points with two steals and an assist. Lastly, sophomore Hannah Douglas scored her first career points as a Bronco, coming into the game with two minutes remaining and hitting a deep three, WMU's final points of the contest.
 
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Chicago State University, is entering its second year under head coach Misty Opat. Opat joined the Cougars after a ten-year stint as head women's basketball coach and athletic director at Rock Valley College. The Cougars compiled a 2-28 record last season and are currently 0-10 in 2019-20. They are led by sophomore guard Kourtney Crane, who has played and started in all x games so far, averaging 14.0 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, along with a team-high ten steals.

PUERTO RICO CLASSIC                                                                                                                
The Broncos head south next Wednesday (Dec. 19) for the Puerto Rico Classic tournament (December Edition), their second and final tournament of the nonconference season. WMU takes on Denver University for the first time ever on Saturday, Dec. 21, and will face off against Stony Brook on the 22nd- their first and last meeting being a loss in New York back in 2014.

COUNTDOWN TO 1000
Senior Breanna Mobley has the chance to hit a unique Bronco milestone this season. She currently holds fourth place in the individual career records for rebounds with 880 and counting, and became a member of the 1,000-point club against Miami on Jan. 20, 2018. If she tallies at least 1,000 rebounds this season she will become the second ever Bronco to reach both 1,000 points and rebounds, alongside former WMU player and coach Pat Charity, who hit the milestone in the 1977-78 season.

WELCOME BACK JACOBSON
Junior Reilly Jacobson is expected to make her first appearance in the Brown & Gold uniform this Saturday against Chicago State. Jacobson transferred to WMU last spring after playing her first two seasons at North Dakota State University. A 6'2 forward from Waukee, Iowa, Jacobson led the Bison in 2017-18 with 11.6 points per game as well as 6.7 rebounds per game while earning Honorable Mention All-Summit League honors. She played in all but two contests for NDSU last season, making 13 starts in 27 games played. In 18 games, Jacobson scored in double figures while leading the team with three double-doubles.