KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's basketball team hosts in-state rival Central Michigan University on Saturday, January 18 at 2 p.m. inside University Arena.

Saturday, Jan. 18 • 2:00 p.m. • Kalamazoo, Mich. • University Arena (5,421)
Western Michigan Broncos (10-5, 3-1 MAC) vs. Central Michigan Chippewas (11-4, 4-0 MAC)

Series Record: CMU leads 55-50
University Arena: Even at 24-24
Last Meeting: March 9, 2019 – Mt. Pleasant, Mich.– WMU 57, CMU 88

BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Radio • WQLR 1600 AM The Fan Flagship (Kalamazoo/Portage) – Aaron Coyle PBP
Watch Live: ESPN+ (Evan Stockton – PBP, Wayne Hinton – Color, Sam Mattlin – Sideline)

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

GET YOUR TICKETS
Make sure to join us for Bronco basketball this season inside University Arena! Single-game women's tickets start at just $6. This Saturday, a purchased ticket for the women's basketball game can be redeemed for a free upper level ticket for the men's game at 4:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Bronco Ticket Office, online at wmubroncos.com/tickets or by calling 1-888-4-WMU-Tix.
 
ALUMNI CELEBRATION
The Broncos will hold an Alumni Day celebration on Saturday during the game, with an alumni meet and greet prior to the game and a group photo and recognition during halftime.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos defeated Ohio 73-72 with a thrilling shot in the final seconds from Leighah-Amori Wool on Wednesday. With the Bobcats up 72-71 with 12 seconds remaining, WMU brought the ball in-bounds to Wool, who hooked a layup in the paint as the game wound down to give the Broncos the victory seconds away from the buzzer.
 
WMU was led by the double-digit performances from four of the team's five starters. Wool led the team with 17 points off a 50 percent (5-of-10) shooting mark with two made baskets from long range. She added seven rebounds, four assists, and a team-high two blocks to her numbers on the night. Redshirt senior Breanna Mobley earned her 12th double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds, paced by 6-of-10 shooting. Kamrin Reed tallied 12 points while Jordan Walker had 11 and tied for a team-high five assists with graduate transfer Chelayne Bailey. 
 
The Broncos shot 44.6 percent from the field (25-of-56) and 38.2 percent from long-range (13-34), tying a season-high. WMU out-rebounded their opponents 39-31, bringing in 11 points off the bench and 20 points in the paint. Reed, Walker, and Maddie Watters each had three made three-pointers, Watters leading from the bench in scoring with nine points total.
 
Wednesday's contest saw 17 lead changes and nine ties in 40 minutes of play, with the score being held at a tie for at least six total minutes of the game.
 
SCOUTING THE BRONCOS
The Broncos finished the nonconference portion of their season with an 8-4 mark, including four wins on the road. They are currently led in scoring by redshirt sophomore Jordan Walker, who is averaging 16.1 points per game, a mark that also earns her a spot at fifth in the MAC. Redshirt senior Breanna Mobley is averaging a double-double on the season with 13.6 points per game and 10.5 rebounds. She has held the top rebounding average spot in the conference since early November and is nearing 1,000 career rebounds to go along with a previously-earned accolade of 1,000 career points. WMU averages 70.9 points per game with 40.7 rebounds, led by Walker and Mobley. They currently sit at second in the MAC with a +2.20 rebounding margin and are third in offensive rebounds.
 
THE MATCHUP
The Broncos are 50-55 all-time against the Chippewas with an even 24-24 slate in home contests. They will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak to the in-state rival, their last win coming in March 2017 during the MAC tourney in Cleveland. Breanna Mobley currently leads the MAC in rebounding with 10.7 per game behind 12 double-doubles on the season, while CMU's Micaela Kelly helms the scoring category with 23.5 points per game.

SCOUTING THE CHIPPEWAS
Central Michigan currently leads the MAC West with an 11-4 overall record, undefeated in the conference at 4-0 after Wednesday's 66-39 win over previous conference frontrunner Ball State. Central Michigan was picked to win the MAC West this year after last year's 25-8 performance that saw them make an appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. They returned three starters and welcomed three newcomers for the season.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
The Broncos are 5-1 on the season when playing at University Arena. Some of their best averages of the year so far have come during home contests. Over six games hosted, they averaged 81.3 points and 43.5 rebounds, with 43 percent field goal shooting and 29 percent from beyond the arc.

COUNTDOWN TO 1000
Senior Breanna Mobley has the chance to hit a unique Bronco milestone this season. She currently holds second place in the individual career records for rebounds with 923 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.