KALAMAZOO, Mich.  – The Western Michigan women's basketball team had two good looks from three to tie the game with under 15 seconds left but neither attempt found the bottom of the net in a thrilling 74-71 loss to in-state rival Central Michigan on Saturday afternoon inside University Arena.

Trailing by three with 17 seconds remaining sophomore guard Sydney Shafer got off a three-point attempt that nearly went in before ending up in the hands of redshirt senior Reilly Jacobson. After the offensive rebound Jacobson dribbled to the top of the key and got off a game-tying three-point attempt that bounced off the side of the rim as time expired.

Western Michigan battled its in-state rival all the way until the end on Saturday afternoon as WMU led by as many as 11 and held the lead for nearly 33 minutes. WMU outshot CMU, shooting 44.6 percent from the field compared to CMU's 43.4 percent.

The Broncos had a quartet of scorers in double figures led by the duo of sophomore Sydney Shafer and redshirt senior Reilly Jacobson with 19 points each. Jacobson was 8-of-18 from the field while also registering seven rebounds and two assists.
Shafer was 5-of-14 from the field against CMU while knocking down four three-pointers and making five of her eight attempts from the free-throw line. The sophomore guard also had two rebounds, three assists, one block and a team-high four steals.

Redshirt freshman Taylor Williams notched a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, five of which came on the offensive glass. Williams in 31 minutes was 6-of-10 from the field, 1-of-2 from long distance and 3-of-5 from the free-throw line.

Off the bench junior Maddie Watters provided a spark with 12 points. Watters was 4-of-7 from behind the three-point line in 26 minutes of action. The quartet of Jacobson, Shafer, Williams and Watters combined to score 66 of WMU's 71 points.

Western Michigan was 10-of-25 from long distance and was 15-of-22 from the free-throw line. The Broncos were outrebounded 39-27 with the Chippewas holding a 15-10 advantage on the offensive glass. WMU forced CMU to commit 20 turnovers on the afternoon, scoring 26 points off of CMU mistakes.

The Broncos now have an overall record of 2-12 and 1-11 in Mid-American Conference play. WMU continues its brief two-game homestand on Wednesday, Feb. 10 against Akron. The Broncos then hit the road to take on Ohio on Saturday, Feb. 13.

It was quick start for the Broncos who posted a 11-5 lead just four minutes into the game after a Taylor Williams lay-up. It was the first two of five straight points for Williams as the redshirt freshman forward knocked down a three-pointer to give WMU a 14-7 advantage at the halfway point of the first quarter.

CMU cut the Bronco lead down to three late in the first quarter before a three-point from Maddie Watters gave WMU a 21-15 lead after one quarter of play.

Central Michigan tied the game at 26 midway through the second quarter as the Chippewas embarked on a 9-1 run. Western Michigan countered with a 7-0 run of its own to propel it's lead back to 33-27 with 3:32 remaining. A pair of free-throws from Taylor Williams ended the first half and gave WMU a 38-35 lead heading into the locker room.

To start the third quarter WMU raced out of the gate with an 8-0 run highlighted by two three-pointers from Sydney Shafer. The Broncos had their largest lead of the game (11) at the 7:30 mark before CMU rallied with a 13-2 run to tie the game at 48 with 4:32 remaining in the third.

It was a back and forth battle down the stretch of the third as neither team led by more than six during the final four minutes of the quarter. Each team went scoreless from the field the final minute of third as the Chippewas took a 60-58 lead into the fourth.

With 6:19 remaining in the game WMU tied the game at 65 thanks to a wide open fast break lay-up from Jacobson. After four straight points from Shafer, WMU took a 69-65 lead with 5:21 left to play. The four-point lead for the Broncos lasted for the next three minutes before a lay-up from CMU's Micaela Kelly cut the Bronco lead down to two with 2:09 to play.

A pair of made free-throws from Shafer gave WMU a four-point lead before the Chippewas Molly Davis knocked down a clutch three-pointer with a minute remaining to trim their deficit down to one.  Following a missed WMU lay-up, CMU ran the length of the floor and floated in a lay-up with 32 seconds remaining to take a 72-71 lead.

After a pair of free-throws from CMU, Western Michigan had a shot to tie the game with under 15 seconds remaining. The Broncos got off two three-point attempts that nearly went in as CMU held on to defeat the Broncos by three. CMU ended the game on a 7-0 run in the final minute while WMU was held scoreless from the field the final 5:21 of play.