CHICAGO - Three different Broncos reached double-digit points as Western Michigan downed Chicago State University, 101-73, at the Jones Convocation Center on Saturday, Dec. 17.
Lauren Ross led the way with 35 points to top her season-high for the third straight game this season.
Taylor Williams had 19 points and nine rebounds.
Abby Voss had a career-high 13 points off the bench, shooting 5-for-10 from the field and grabbing five rebounds. WMU's bench provided 33 points on the night and the team shot 47.9 percent (34-for-71) while holding the Cougars to 44.1 percent (26-for-59).
WMU broke out to an early 12-3 lead with a jumper in the paint from Williams followed by a three-pointer from Ross. Stutelberg came in hot in the first quarter, hitting a three-pointer as her first made basket four minutes into play. The Cougars answered with a few baskets here and there, but ultimately the Broncos held strong as Norris and Segues put up points late in the quarter to push the lead going into the second frame to 28-18.
Western Michigan extended its lead early in the second quarter with back-to-back made three-point attempts from
Alli Carlson and
Maddie Watters. Several Broncos continued to extend the lead as Williams added six points and Ross with 10. The Brown & Gold outscoring CSU outrebounded the Cougars 12-6 while holding steady defensively with three turnovers to CSU's six.
The Broncos opened the second half with a three-pointer from Watters. WMU tallied two big runs in the final quarter to extend their lead. A 10-point run was chased by a five-point run to make the score 75-50. Voss added seven points of her 13 points in the third.
The final frame began with two made free throws by Ross.
Lauren Audino made her way onto the board scoring six points and pulling down four rebounds. Western Michigan scored 24 points shooting 7-for-8 from the charity stripe, making 8-for-17 from the field and 1-for-5 from deep to finish the game 101-73.
Up next, the Broncos head on the road to South Bend, Indiana to face the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame on Wednesday, Dec. 21. Tip-off is scheduled for noon with the game being broadcast on ACCNX.
