KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Senior forward Reilly Jacobson had a career-high 24 points as the Western Michigan women's basketball team opened up the 2020-21 season with a thrilling 80-76 win over the University of Illinois-Chicago at University Arena on Saturday night.

Reilly finished 7-of-13 from the field and hit 8-of-10 from the charity stripe in 33 minutes of action, while pulling down seven rebounds. Sophomore Sydney Shafer had 16 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore forward Taylor Williams had a double-double with 11 points and team-high 11 rebounds. The Broncos (1-0) shot 49 percent from the field (25-for-51), while holding the Flames to 41.5 percent (27-for-65) and forcing 24 turnovers. WMU also out-rebounded UIC 39-31.

The Flames led for the majority of the first half, including a 19-10 lead with 1:13 to go in the first quarter.  WMU tied it up for the first time at 21-21 after a three-pointer by Ashley Konkle with 7:06 left in the second quarter and then took its first lead of the night on a free throw by Lauren Ross, 22-21. UIC tied it up at 25-25 and then took a two-point lead before back-to-back triples by WMU's Maddie Watters and Kia Brooks pushed the lead to 31-27. Jada Nneji cut the lead to two, 31-29, before the teams went to the locker room at the half.

The teams went back and forth to open the third quarter with the lead changing five times until Shafer made three-pointer with 7:06 left in the third quarter to put the Broncos up by two. It was the final lead change of the game. WMU built 12-point lead, 57-45, after a pair of free throws by Ross with 1:46 left in the quarter.

The Flames chipped away at WMU's lead but never got within more than three as the Broncos were able to keep their distance by making free throws and breaking UIC's press for layups in the final minutes.

Western Michigan opens up Mid-American Conference play on Wednesday at Central Michigan with a 2 p.m. tip-off.