KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan women's basketball returns to campus following Thanksgiving break and hosts the Beacons of Valparaiso this Monday, Nov. 29 inside University Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
WHERE TO WATCH
Monday night's game against the visiting Beacons will be available for streaming via ESPN3. The link to access the stream can be found
HERE.
SCOUTING THE BEACONS (0-5)
Valparaiso enters Kalamazoo coming off of a four-point loss to UIC by a final score of 68-64. Redshirt senior guard Carie Weinman led the way for the Beacons, putting up a season-high 23 points, four rebounds, and a pair of assists. Weinman leads Valpo in scoring this season, averaging 11.8 PPG on 45.1 percent shooting from the field. Grace White added 12 points, seven boards, and six dimes in the contest against UIC as well. Sixth-year forward Caitlin Morrison also added 10 points and six rebounds to the Beacons' cause.
As a team, Valparaiso has three players averaging double-digit scoring. In addition to Carie Weinman's 11.8 PPG, senior guard Shay Frederick averages 10.8 PPG, and fifth-year guard Grace White adds 10.6 PPG. Sophomore guard Leah Earnest comes close to double figures, averaging 9.0 PPG on 61.3 percent from the floor.
Offensively, the Beacons average 59.2 PPG, while opponents have averaged 72.2 PPG, coming out to a scoring margin of -13. Valpo currently shoots at a clip of 43.1 percent from the field and 61.8 percent from the charity stripe. On the glass, Valparaiso snags 24.0 RPG at a margin of -17.2 against their opponents.
While the Beacons are still searching for win #1, their schedule through the first five games of the season has included power five opposition in the form of Michigan State and Xavier. Valpo has also been within five points twice thus far, including a matchup with fellow MAC school Central Michigan.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE BRONCOS (3-2)
Western Michigan comes into Monday night's outing following a big night against Olivet College, posting a win by a 76-point margin and a final score of 105-29, the second largest margin of victory in program history. It was a career evening for sophomore guard
Gabi Saxman, who broke the all-time single game steal record with 11 against the Comets. She also added a career-high 15 points, six assists, and two rebounds.
The Broncos dominated all aspects of that contest, and finished with five players scoring in double figures, while two others tallied eight points each. The 105 points was the fifth highest amount scored by a WMU team in a single game in program history as well.
Sophomore guard
Lauren Ross and senior guard
Maddie Watters each tallied 17 points for Western Michigan. Ross finished 7-12 from the floor and added six rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while Watters went 6-12 from the field, including 5-11 from beyond the arc. Additionally, the tandem forward duo of redshirt senior
Reilly Jacobson and redshirt sophomore Taylor Williams recorded 12 and 11 points, respectively.
As a team, the Broncos rank third in the MAC, averaging 77.6 PPG, while holding opponents to 60.8 PPG, which also ranks third in the conference. WMU also ranks second in the MAC in scoring margin, outscoring opponents by an average of 16.8 PPG. From the field, Western Michigan shoots at a rate of 44.5 percent (second in the MAC), and capitalizes on 68.6 percent of opportunities from the foul line so far. The Broncos also lead the Mid-American Conference in steals, averaging a whopping 13.6 takeaways per game.
ON THE HORIZON
Following Monday's contest with Valparaiso, Western Michigan travels to Indiana State on Saturday, Dec. 4 for a matchup with the Sycamores. Tip-off in Terre Haute is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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