KALAMAZOO, Mich. –  The Western Michigan University women's basketball team will host conference opponent Northern Illinois University Wednesday night at University Arena. With a 7 pm tip-off, Wednesday's matchup features Lawson Lunatic Day. Come support the women's hoop and enjoy a $4 hot dog and chips meal deal for the night! Students claim their free ticket for a chance to win a VIP hockey package.
 
WHERE TO WATCH
Wednesday's matchup between the Broncos and Huskies will be available for streaming via ESPN+/ The link to the stream is listed above, and can also be found HERE. 


ALL-TIME vs. NORTHERN ILLINOIS
The Broncos lead the all-time series against Northern Illinois 41-30. The Huskies won both meetings last season by double digits, 61-47 in Kalamazoo and 73-55 at the Convocation Center. NIU has won six of the last nine meetings with WMU.
 
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES 
The Huskies of Northern Illinois combined for 31 points in the final period, with A'Jah Davis making the game-winning free throw with 1.4 seconds left in play to defeat the Mid-American Conference preseason favorites, Toledo, 67-66. Davis led the scorers with 22 points and 11 rebounds for her eighth double-double on the season. She ranks second in the MAC in both field goal percentage (56.1 percent) and rebounds per game (11.1). Chelby Koker registered double-digits for her seventh time, registering 21 points and a game-high of six assists. 
 
As a unit, Northern Illinois averages 70.2 PPG on 40.7 percent shooting from the field. The Huskies average 37.7 rebounds per contest, for a -0.2 rebound margin per game over their opponents. NIU averages 11.2 free throws per game and knocks down 75.6 percent of their attempts from the line. Northern Illinois dishes out 13.4 assists per contest while averaging 8.8 steals per game. 
 
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM WESTERN MICHIGAN 
Western Michigan (5-8,02 MAC) gets set to host Northern Illinois following its fall to Ball State 76-70 on Saturday at University Arena. Three players scored double-figures for Western Michigan, while several added a spark from the bench. Taylor Williams scored a season-high 25 points, while Hannah Spitzley chipped in a season-high 12 points along with her season-high 10 rebounds. Lauren Ross added 10 points in the contest. 
 
In a back-and-forth battle between the Broncos and Cardinals, the two teams combined for eight tied and eight lead changes. The Broncos proved themselves on defense as the two teams never led by more than seven on the afternoon. 
 
Western Michigan averages 66.1 PPG on 38.9 percent shooting from the field. The Broncos average 31.5 rebounds per contest, for a -4.6 rebound margin per game over their opponents. WMU averages 11.7 free throws per game and knocks down 66.7 percent of their attempts from the line. Western Michigan dishes out 12.2 assists per contest while averaging 10.2 steals and 2.6 blocks per game. 
 
LEADING THE MAC (*National Ranking) 
Lauren Ross 
            Field Goal Attempts - 3rd (192), *149th
            Field Goal Percentage - 6th (45.8), *131st
            Field Goals - 2nd (88), *112th
            Free Throw Attempts - 3rd (84), *49th
            Free Throw Percentage -  5th (84.5), *77th
            Free Throws - 1st (71), *28th
            Points Per Game - 1st (21.0), *14th
            Three Point Percentage - 7th (35.1), *133rd
            Three Pointers Per Game - 6th (2.00), *164th
 
Taylor Williams 
            Blocks - 2nd (23), *61st
            Blocks Per Game - 2nd (1.92), *33rd
            Field Goal Percentage - 4th (47.6), *102nd
            Points Per Game - 11th (14.1), *223rd
            Rebounds Per Game - 5th (7.7), *138th
            
Hannah Spitzley 
            Steals Per Game - 5th (2.00), *148th
 
MAKING IT'S MARK 
Few teams shoot as many three-pointers as WMU does; its 28 three-point field goal attempts per game leads the MAC and ranks ninth in the country. Leading the Broncos in three-pointers is Ross with 26-of-74, followed by Maddie Watters with 19-of-65 made, and then Maggie Stutelberg with 18-of-69 made attempts. 
 
ON THE HORIZON
Following Wednesday's game against NIU, the Broncos head North to face the Chippewas of Central Michigan. Tip-off in Mount Pleasant on Saturday, Jan. 14 is set for 1 pm and will be available for streaming via ESPN+.
 
Students can claim their tickets to get into all WMU home games free, and tickets for all Bronco home games can be found at wmubroncos.com/tickets, or by calling 1-888-4-WMU-Tix.