KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's basketball team fell to Michigan State, 49-97 on Sunday at the Breslin Center. 
 
Sunday's contest marked a homecoming from a pair of former local stars Hannah Spitzley (Pewamo-Westphalia) and Maddie Watters (Williamston), who both started for Western Michigan (0-2). Spitzley recorded six points and four assists and Watters added three points and two assists. Leading Western Michigan on the day was Lauren Ross with 17 points, followed by Maggie Stutelberg with 7 points. Taylor Williams contributed the rebound high of six, followed by Abby Voss with five.
 
The Broncos started on the front foot, scoring the first two points in East Lansing. With a 7-2 Spartan lead, WMU soon answered with a brief 10-9 advantage. After MSU added an 11-0 run to make a double-digit lead, the Broncos finished the first period trailing the Spartans 23-14. Ross added 10 points in the first five minutes. Joined by Spitzley with another four points in the last minute. 
 
Michigan State came out of the gates in the second period, scoring the first seven points, and leading the Broncos to their first timeout. The Spartans added another four points, increasing the margin to a 20-point lead. Defensive rebounds by Megan Wagner, Williams, and Voss, alongside a two-point jumper by Ross and a three-point jumper by Gabi Saxman led WMU into halftime, trailing MSU 46-19.
 
After scoring just 19 points in the first half, the Broncos added a total of 17 points in the third period, Stutelberg (5), Watters (3), Ross, Spitzley, Williams, and Voss each with 2, and Wagner (1). The third period finished 77-36, MSU leading. 
 
The fourth period opened strong for the Broncos, adding a four-point run within one minute of play. Ross added a three-pointer with 3:34 to play, followed by another three-pointer by Lauren Audino with 0:37 to play. The matchup concluded MSU 97 – WMU 49.
 
Western Michigan heads on the road to take on the University of Michigan on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.