KALAMAZOO, Mich – The Western Michigan women's basketball team hosts arch rival Central Michigan inside University Arena on Saturday for a Senior Day matinee matchup. Tip-off against the Chippewas on Feb. 26 is set for 2 p.m. sharp.
 
WHERE TO WATCH
Wednesday's matchup between the Broncos and Chippewas will be available for streaming via ESPN3. The link to the stream is listed above, and can also be found HERE.
 
CHECKING OUT THE CHIPPEWAS (4-22, 2-15 MAC)
Central Michigan enters Kalamazoo following a home bout with the conference leader in the Toledo Rockets, falling by a final score of 76-52. The Rockets shot above 40 percent from three and above 90 percent from the free throw line to come out of Mount Pleasant with a win.

The Chippewas were led by senior forward Jahari Smith, who was the lone player for CMU to finish in double figures, posting 13 points on 6-10 from the field, as well as four rebounds and a pair of assists. Smith currently ranks second in the MAC in individual rebounding, pulling down 10.48 rebounds each time she takes the court. Freshman guard Lisa Tesson added nine points and six rebounds, and five assists for Central Michigan as well.

Collectively, Central Michigan scores an average of 59.6 PPG on 37.0 percent shooting. From three-point range, CMU knocks down 27.6 percent of their looks and capitalizes on 71.0 percent of their chances from the charity stripe, averaging 6.9 made three's per game and 9.4 made free throws per outing. Furthermore, Central Michigan dishes out an average of 11.2 APG and possess an assist/turnover ratio of -4.5 on the year.

On the glass, CMU pulls down an average of 36.3 boards each time out, and currently post a margin of -3.0 on the season. Central Michigan is led offensively by Molly Davis, who averages 18.7 PPG on 39.5 percent from the field and 82.3 percent from the foul line. Jahari Smith has also been big for CMU thus far, averaging a double-double with 12.4 PPG on 59.0 percent shooting to go along with her 10.5 boards per contest.
 
BREAKING DOWN THE BRONCOS (14-12, 8-9 MAC)
The Broncos host the Chippewas for senior day following a clash with Ball State on Wednesday that yielded a final score of 64-56 in favor of the Cardinals. BSU pulled away in the game's final couple of minutes despite a valiant comeback effort from WMU.

Junior guard Sydney Shafer led all Broncos in scoring with 18 points, five steals, and a pair of rebounds during her 26 minutes. Redshirt forward Taylor Williams recorded a near double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds, and swiped four steals of her own. Sophomore guards Hannah Spitzley and Lauren Ross each added nine points apiece. Spitzley pulled down four rebounds and dished out two assists, while Ross yanked down five boards and nabbed two steals herself.

Collectively, WMU puts up an even 65.6 PPG on 40.9 percent shooting while limiting opponents to 63.6 PPG, which is third-lowest in the Mid-American Conference, for a scoring margin of +2.0 on the season. The Broncos also find nylon on 31.8 percent of their three-point attempts and 68.3 percent of their opportunities from the line for 7.1 made threes and 11.6 good freebies each time they hit the hardwood. WMU currently sits in eighth place in the Mid-American Conference standings, making the final three of the regular season of supreme importance for conference tournament seeding.

Western Michigan has been ushered in terms of scoring this season by Lauren Ross, who currently sits at fifth place conference-wide in scoring and seventh in field goal percentage with 18.32 PPG at a rate of 43.2 percent from the floor while grabbing 5.1 RPG. Furthermore, Lauren has earned Player of the Week honors twice, as well as a Female Scholar Athlete of the Week award last week, and is the first Bronco to win both awards in the same week since Carrie Moore in November of 2006.

Taylor Williams and Sydney Shafer have each been crucial to the WMU offense as of late as well. Williams posted a pair of double-doubles and two nine-rebound games in the Broncos' last five matchups, while Shafer is on a hot streak of her own, posting five consecutive games in double figures, including 18 and 19 point performances against Ball State last week. The team is also reequipped with redshirt senior Reilly Jacobson, who missed four games due to injury. Jacobson adds another scoring option as well as a presence both defensively and on the boards.
 
ON THE HORIZON
After Saturday's contest, the Broncos get set to host Eastern Michigan inside University Arena on Wednesday. Tip-off against the Eagles in Kalamazoo on March 2 is set for 7 p.m. and will be available for streaming via ESPN+/ESPN3. Saturday afternoon is also Senior Day, and Western Michigan will honor the commitment and sacrifices made by our seniors throughout their careers prior to tip-off.

Students get into all WMU home games with a valid Bronco ID, and further ticket information can be found at www.wmubroncos.com/tickets, or by calling 1-888-4-WMU-TIX. We will see you all inside The Zoo tomorrow!

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