KENT, Ohio - The Western Michigan women's basketball team suffered a 75-63 road loss versus conference opponent Kent State University on Saturday, January 11.
Despite outshooting the Golden Flashes with 23 baskets on 66 attempts (34.8 percent) and shooting 38.1 percent from long range, the game was won by a strong Kent State defense, who scored 17 points off Bronco turnovers. Both teams scored an even 28 points in the paint, while WMU had more turnover trouble with 14 to Kent State's ten. The opponents also added 24 points from the charity stripe, shooting 80 percent.
Four of five Bronco starters had double-digit performances on the day, with redshirt senior
Breanna Mobley leading the pack with 16 points and 13 rebounds, good for her 11
th double-double of the season. She tied for her season high with four blocks and added an assist, playing in nearly all 40 minutes of the contest.
Leighah-Amori Wool,
Kamrin Reed, and
Jordan Walker each tallied 11 points with at least one successful basket from three-point range. Graduate transfer
Chelayne Bailey added eight points and seven rebounds, leading the team in assists with five. The Brown & Gold shot 23-of-53 (43.4%) from the field and 8-of-22 from three-point range.
Mobley reached a unique Bronco milestone during today's game. She joins the ranks of only two other women's basketball players all-time in tallying at least 1000 points, 600 rebounds, and 100 blocks. The fifth-year starter added points in all three categories this afternoon, bringing her to 1,446 points, 958 rebounds, and 103 blocks and counting during her time with the Brown & Gold. Previous players to receive the honor are Kristin Koetsier (1999-2003) and Miracle Woods (2012-2016). Mobley is averaging 13.8 points and 10.7 rebounds, a conference-best, so far this season.
WMU drew first in a fast-paced first quarter that saw 17 total points scored in the first five minutes. Kent State took an early lead with a 7-0 run to force a Bronco timeout. The Brown & Gold struggled to find a shooting stride early as they shot 5-for-17 from the field. Mobley scored eight of the Bronco's 12 points total in the opening frame.
Kent State began the second quarter as hot as the first, scoring four straight. The Broncos answered with back-to-back baskets from Bailey, including the team's first made three-pointer of the game. Scoring another eight straight points, the Golden Flashes extended their lead to 16, their largest of the game. WMU closed out the quarter with a three from Reed to end the frame with three successful shots beyond the arc as the Broncos trailed Kent State 43-27.
The Broncos saw their best performance of the game after the halftime break. WMU opened the quarter with eight straight points, helped along by Bailey and Reed. Scoring seven more brought them within three points of their opponent. Western Michigan outscored the Golden Flashes 24-12 this quarter, shooting 64.3 percent (9-for-14) from the field and 60 percent (3-for-5) from long range. Walker scored ten points in the third frame alone, while Mobley added six points.
The final frame began with Kent State taking off on a 9-0 run, holding the Broncos scoreless for the first six minutes of play. The Brown & Gold woke back up late in the quarter as
Maddie Watters came off the bench to score three-pointers on back-to-back possessions. A jumper from Wool brought the team back within five, but the Golden Flashes were able to pull away late thanks to a three-point jumper from Lindsey Thall and 11-of-16 free throw shooting.
The Broncos are back at home twice next week for more conference play. They will face off against Ohio University on Wednesday (Jan. 15) at 7 p.m. and in-state rival Central Michigan on Saturday (Jan. 18) at 2 p.m.
