KALAMAZOO, Mich.  – The Western Michigan women's basketball team shot just 21.4 percent and was outscored 21-8 in the fourth quarter in a close 69-63 loss to Ohio on Saturday afternoon inside University Arena.

Western Michigan led by 10 early in the fourth quarter before Ohio went on a 15-2 run to take a three--point lead with 2:19 remaining. Freshman Megan Wagner knocked down her third three-pointer of the night with 1:43 left to play to tie the game at 63.
After an Ohio lay-up gave the Bobcats a slim two-point lead the Broncos once again had a shot to tie or take the lead with under a minute to play.

With the ball in hands and driving towards the basket Wager got off a shot that missed and fell into the hands of the Ohio defender. Ohio ended the game on a 6-0 run, going a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line to earn the win.

The Broncos had three players score in double figures and two earn double-doubles in redshirt senior Reilly Jacobson and redshirt freshman Taylor Williams. Jacobson led the Broncos with 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field with 10 rebounds. Jacobson in a career-high 39 minutes had two three-pointers to go along with two assists and one block.

For the second straight game, Taylor Williams recorded a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. It's the third double-double of the season for Williams who went 6-of-8 from the field and had one assist and three blocks. Of William's 13 rebounds, five came on the offensive glass

Rounding out the double digit scoring was freshman Megan Wagner with a career-high 15 points. Wagner was 6-of-11 from the field and 3-of-7 from behind the three-point line. In a full 40 minutes Wagner also had five rebounds, one steal and a career-high five assists.

Fellow freshman Hannah Spitzley joined Wagner by playing all 40 minutes and notched a career-high nine points with six rebounds. Spitzley was 4-of-8 from the field against the Bobcats and 1-of-4 from long distance. Off the bench, sophomore Sydney Shafer tallied six points to go along with six rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal.

For the game Western Michigan shot 42.4 percent from the field and was 9-of-30 from long distance. WMU out rebounded Ohio, 41-39 with Ohio holding a 13-10 advantage on the offensive glass. The Broncos was 4-of-6 from the free-throw line compared to Ohio's 13-of-22 clip.

The loss drops Western Michigan's overall record to 2-8 and 1-7 in Mid-American Conference play. The Broncos continue MAC play on Wednesday, Jan. 27 with its second match-up of the season against Bowling Green. WMU then returns home on Saturday, Jan. 30 against Ball State.

It was a slow start for the Broncos as WMU trailed 7-2 just three minutes into the game as Ohio's Cierra Hooks scored all seven points for the Bobcats. Western Michigan rallied back and knocked down three straight three-pointers to gain an 11-8 advantage with five minutes remaining in the first.

The two teams traded points before Ohio made three straight field goals to tie the game at 15. A lay-up late gave WMU a 17-15 lead after the first quarter. Redshirt senior Reilly Jacobson was the star for the Broncos in the first, scoring eight points.
Western Michigan and Ohio was knotted up at 21 early in the second quarter before WMU made six of its next eight field goals to gain a 34-25 advantage. WMU extended its lead to double digit later in the second after a corner three from freshman Hannah Spitzley followed by a fast break lay-up from redshirt freshman Taylor Williams.

Ohio missed its final five field goals in the second quarter as the Bronco defense held the Bobcats scoreless the final 3:28. Western Michigan took a 39-28 lead into the locker room with Reilly Jacobson and Megan Wagner each leading the team with 10 points.

Both teams went back and forth to begin the second half prior to Ohio making three straight field goals to trim the Bronco lead down to 10. The Broncos continued to battle and held a 48-39 lead with 4:35 remaining in the third despite Ohio making five of its seven field goals. Ohio went on a 6-0 late in the third to trim its deficit down to four before an and-one bucket from Jacobson gave WMU a 55-48 after three quarters of play.

In the fourth sophomore Sydney Shafer began the quarter with a three-pointer before Ohio embarked on a 7-0 run to trail 58-55 with 7:22 remaining. Midway through the fourth the Bronco offense went cold, going scoreless for over five minutes as Ohio went on a 14-2 run to take a three-point lead with 1:58 remaining.

With 1:58 left to play, freshman Megan Wagner connected on her third three-pointer of the night to tie the game at 63. The three ended up being the final field goal for WMU as Ohio ended the game on a 14-3 run to secure the 69-63 victory.