KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Behind a stellar defensive effort and a career-high 27 points from redshirt senior Reilly Jacobson the Western Michigan women's basketball team picked up its second straight home win with a 71-58 victory over Kent State on Wednesday afternoon.

It was the Bronco defense that led the way against the Golden Flashes, holding Kent State to a 34.5 percent field goal percentage and just 28 percent from long distance. The third quarter proved to be the difference for WMU as the Broncos outscored Kent State, 21-5 in the quarter.

Offensively Western Michigan was led by redshirt senior forward Reilly Jacobson who poured in a career-high 27 points and collected her third 20-point game of the season. Jacobson was 11-of-16 from the field while going 4-of-7 from the free-throw line and knocking down one three-pointer.

Jacobson also had one rebound to go along with two assists, one block and two steals in 36 minutes. It's the 14^th game this season in which Jacobson has scored in double figures and the eighth instance in which she has led the Broncos in scoring.

Along with Jacobson, sophomore Sydney Shafer registered double figures with 15 points on 4-of-14 shooting from the field. Shafer notched her 12^th double digit performance of the season while knocking down two three-pointers and going 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. Shafer also had a career-high with nine rebounds along with four assists and two steals.

Rounding out the trio of double digit scorers was junior Maddie Watters with 10 points. Watters was 2-of-7 from the field and was 2-of-6 from behind the three-point line. Watters was 4-of-6 from the free-throw line and collected four rebounds and two steals in 35 minutes. It's the fourth game this season Watters has scored in double figures.

Leading the way on the glass was redshirt freshman Taylor Williams with nine rebounds, six of which came on the offensive end. Williams nearly recorded a double-double with eight points on 4-of-10 shooting from the field. Off the bench the Broncos got a key contribution from redshirt junior Abby Voss, scoring five points to go along with three rebounds and two assists.

As a team the Broncos shot a stellar 45.5 percent from the field and was 6-of-16 from long distance. The WMU defense was dominant against the Golden Flashes, forcing Kent State to commit 18 turnovers, scoring 12 points off of Kent State mistakes. WMU dominated the paint as well scoring 38 of its 71 points in the painted area.

Western Michigan has now won two of its last three contests and improved its overall record to 4-13 and 3-12 in Mid-American Conference play. The Broncos will have a week off in-between games before traveling to Ypsilanti to square off with Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 24.

Kent State got off to a fast start making three straight field goals to take a 7-2 lead at the eight-minute mark of the first quarter. The Broncos responded midway through the quarter thanks to a 7-0 run with five coming from Reilly Jacobson to tie the game
at 11.

Down the stretch of the first quarter the Bronco offense went cold, going just 1-of-7 from the field. WMU was held scoreless the final 3:03 of action in the first as the Golden Flashes held a 19-12 lead.

It was a back and forth battle to begin the second quarter as Kent State raced out to a 24-17 lead with seven minutes remaining. The Bronco offense got hot midway through the quarter and embarked on a 14-2 run to earn a 29-26 advantage with 2:38 remaining. The 14-2 run was highlighted by the Bronco defense holding Kent State scoreless from the field for over 4:30.

To end the first half Kent State made just one of their final eight field goals as Western Michigan took a slim 31-30 lead into the locker room.

The turning point for the Broncos came in the third quarter as WMU outscored Kent State, 21-5 in the third. Western Michigan began the quarter on a 7-0 run to extend its lead and after a pair of Jacobson free-throws, WMU led 42-32 with six minutes remaining. 

The Broncos continued to extend their lead late in the third as Kent State was held scoreless for over five minutes as WMU gained a 46-32 advantage. Kent State scored three of its five points in the quarter from the free-throw line as the Brown & Gold had a 52-35 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Western Michigan extended its lead to 19 after and-one bucket for Taylor Williams. Kent State responded with a three to cut into the WMU lead prior to Maddie Watters knocking down a corner three to extend WMU's lead back to 62-48.

Late in the fourth the Golden Flashes made four of five field goals to trim the Bronco lead down to 66-54 with 2:26 remaining. However, Western Michigan was able to force three straight turnovers and pull away late for the 71-58 victory. Down the stretch WMU made four of its final six field goals to secure the home victory.