KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's basketball team picked up its first win of the season after a 62-54 win over Youngstown State at University Arena on Tuesday night.
 
The Broncos' smothering defense was the big difference in the game, with YSU just shooting 29 percent (16-for-55) from the field. WMU's perimeter defense held the Penguins to just four three-pointers on 25 attempts. Junior forward Taylor Williams led the way for Western Michigan with her first double-double of the season, posting 18 points and 11 rebounds. Lauren Ross hit double figures for the fourth-straight game this season with 17 and was clutch from the charity stripe, going 7-for-8. Maddie Watters had an efficient night with 11 points and going 3-for-5 from the three-point line.
 
YSU opened the game with two straight baskets to take a 4-0 lead, but the Broncos responded with eight straight points, five by Ross, to take an 8-4 lead. The teams traded triples and WMU eventually went ahead 13-7 after a layup by Maggie Stutelberg. The Penguins closed out the first quarter with an 8-0 run to take a 15-13 lead into the second quarter.
 
It was the second and third quarters where the Broncos opened the game up. Williams scored the first seven points of the second quarter to push WMU ahead 19-15. Western Michigan never trailed from that point, building its lead out to nine after a three-pointer by Williams with 2:49 left in the second quarter, 27-18. Youngstown State fought back, closing the game to 27-24 at the half.
 
Western Michigan opened the third quarter on an 11-2 run to push its lead to 12 after a layup by Williams. WMU held the Penguins at bay and kept an eight-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, 41-33. The Penguins opened up the fourth quarter on an 8-2 run to cut the lead down to two points, 43-41, after a free throw by Dena Jarrels with 7:14 remaining. Watters hit a triple on the fast break on a pass from Alli Carlson to push the lead back to five, but YSU charged back to cut it back to two after a layup and then a free throw by Lilly Ritz. Western Michigan responded with an 8-0 run thanks to two more triples by Waters and a jumper by Hannah Spitzley to take a 54-44 lead. Youngstown State could only get within as close as six with 43 seconds remaining as the Broncos killed the game off down the stretch with free throws.
 
Western Michigan returns home on Sunday to host Grace College at 5 p.m. Bronco fans that had tickets for the canceled Detroit Mercy game can use them for entrance.