KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's basketball team got career-high performances from redshirt freshman Taylor Williams and sophomore Sydney Shafer in a tough 67-62 loss to Eastern Michigan on Sunday afternoon.  

After three quarters the Broncos and Eagles were tied at 46 and went back and forth trading the lead in the fourth quarter. Western Michigan trailed by six with 1:30 remaining before an and-one bucket from redshirt freshman Taylor Williams cut the Eagle lead down to three.

On the ensuing possession, Eastern Michigan missed a 15-foot jumper from the free-throw line to give the Broncos a chance to tie the game with under a minute left. However, the Broncos lost the ball out of bounds and then committed a foul to send EMU to the free-throw line. Making just 1-of-2 from the free-throw line with 22 seconds left the Broncos trailed 63-59.

Out of a timeout senior Reilly Jacobson knocked down a three-pointer with 16.5 remaining to cut the Bronco deficit down to one. After two made free-throws from EMU the Broncos had a chance to tie with 12 seconds remaining.

A blocked shot forced the Broncos to have an out of bounds play with 5.9 seconds remaining and off the play Shafer got off a corner three that bounced off the side of the rim and into the Eagles possession. EMU knocked down two free-throws to secure the victory.

It was a career day from sophomore guard Sydney Shafer who registered a career-high 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field. Shafer in 27 minutes was 4-of-8 from behind the three-point line with three rebounds and one assist.

Redshirt freshman Taylor Williams also had a career-day against the Eagles with 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field. Williams collected six rebounds to go along with one assist, one block and one steal. The duo of Williams and Shafer combined for 43 of WMU's 62 points against the Eagles.

As a team the Broncos shot 41.8 percent from the field and was 6-of-18 from long distance. Western Michigan shot a staggering 50 percent from the field in the first half compared to 32 percent in the second half.

WMU outrebounded EMU 41-37 and held a 9-8 advantage on the offensive glass. The Eagles took advantage of Bronco mistakes, scoring 23 points off of 18 WMU turnovers. The Brown & Gold dominated in the paint, scoring 34 of its 62 points in the paint.

Western Michigan now has an overall record of 1-6 and 0-5 in Mid-American Conference play. The Broncos will look to snap their six-game losing skid on the road on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at Toledo. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. inside Savage Arena.

It was a slow start for both teams in the first quarter as WMU and EMU combined to go 2-of-9 from the field through the first four minutes of the game. The Broncos jumped out to an 8-4 lead after EMU made just one of their first nine field goals. WMU led 12-10 after the first quarter with Williams scoring eight of the 12 points.

In the second quarter it was all Sydney Shafer as she scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half in the second. Early on the Broncos went on an 8-0 run, making four straight field goals to take a 20-12 lead with 6:30 left. Ultimately WMU went on a 13-2 run highlighted by a three-pointer from Shafer to give the Broncos a 33-21 lead. EMU embarked on a 6-0 run late in the second quarter as WMU took a 35-27 lead in to the locker room.

It was a back and forth third quarter with both teams trading baskets. Eastern Michigan responded with an 8-0 run to take a 40-38 lead midway through the third quarter. The two teams once again battled back and forth en route to a 46-46 tie after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter WMU was outscored 21-16 and had two chances to tie the game late. With 5.9 seconds remaining freshman Megan Wagner had her shot blocked out of bounds to set up another game-tying shot for the Brown & Gold.

On the out of bounds play Sydney Shafer got off a corner three that bounced off the side of the rim and into the Eagles possession. EMU knocked down two free-throws with 0.2 seconds left to secure the victory.