KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan women's basketball team opened Mid-American Conference play with a huge 84-72 victory over the University of Toledo on Saturday, Jan. 4 at University Arena.
The Broncos were victorious in their conference opener for the fourth consecutive season, improving their overall record to 8-4 and winning four of their last five contests. The win snapped an 11-game losing streak against Toledo, their last victory over the Rockets back in 2014 on the road.
Four of five Bronco starters had double-digit performances on the day.
Leighah-Amori Wool led WMU with an impressive career-high 23 points, shooting 8-for-12 from the field, a team high 3-for-5 from three-point range, and 4-for-4 at the free throw line.
Breanna Mobley earned her ninth double-double of the season within the first half of the contest, going on to score a total of 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Jordan Walker followed Wool with 20 points, her fifth game of the season scoring 20 points or more, and
Chelayne Bailey brought in 11 points, eight of which were earned from the charity stripe.
As a team, Western Michigan shot 48.4 percent (30-of-62) from the field, converting eight shots beyond the arc. Despite the Rockets out-rebounding WMU 37-32, the Broncos had a strong defensive showing, converting 19 points off UT turnovers and 16 fast break points with 40 points scored in the paint.
The Broncos came out firing in the first quarter, converting 9 field goals and two shots from long range. WMU opened the game on a 10-2 run behind points from Mobley and threes from Wool and Walker to force an early Toledo timeout. The early lead extended heading into the second quarter thanks to a fast-break layup by Walker and eight points total from Mobley.
The second frame started out slow on both sides until Mobley drew an and-one foul to put three points on the board for the Brown & Gold. Sophomore
Maddie Watters came off the bench to score a corner three, assisted by freshman
Sydney Shafer. Mobley earned her double-double with seconds to spare, grabbing her tenth rebound off a missed Toledo free throw. The Broncos shot 40.6 percent in the first half, playing clean with just four turnovers to Toledo's ten.
WMU opened the third quarter strong on a 7-2 run, capped off by two consecutive baskets from Wool and a pair of threes from Bailey and
Kamrin Reed to take a 16-point lead into the final stanza.
The Rockets mounted a comeback in the final frame as both teams put up impressive numbers, with Toledo combining its first three quarter numbers and narrowly outscoring WMU 37-33. Despite opening the quarter with six straight points, the Rockets fought back with a late 11-4 run. The game was ultimately won at the free throw line. Bailey went up for free shots on five straight Bronco possessions, going 8-for-10. Wool went to the line next, making both of her shots to earn her new career-high in the game's final seconds.
The Broncos travel hit the road for back-to-back Ohio games next week, facing University of Akron on Wednesday, Jan. 8 and Kent State University on Saturday, Jan. 11. WMU is back home on Wednesday, January 15 against Ohio University at 7 p.m.
