MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's basketball team used a fast start and maintained the majority of the lead throughout to claim its second victory in conference play on Saturday, January 14 at the McGuirk Arena, winning 71-60 over Central Michigan University. 
 
A collective effort paced the Bronco offense as 12 WMU players saw minutes in these afternoons play. Lauren Ross, Hannah Spitzley, and Taylor Williams led the scorers. Ross topped the scoring with 20 points, followed just behind by Spitzley who registered her season-high and career-high with 17 points. Taylor Williams reached double-digits at 14, while several other Broncos added to the scoring. 
 
Ross recorded 7-of-21 shooting from the field and 5-of-7 from the line while adding three rebounds and steals each, two assists, and one block. Spitzley shot 7-of-10 from the field and a perfect 2-of-2 from the free throw line. She added seven rebounds and four assists on the day. Williams shot 6-of-13 from the field and 2-of-6 from the free throw, while pulling down an impressive 10 rebounds. She tallied one assist, a season-high three blocks, and three steals. Several Broncos added to the scoring, Maggie Stutelberg (6), Abby Voss (5), Gabi Saxman, and Alli Carlson (3).
 
The Broncos jumped out to a 14-6 lead to open the game, holding Central Michigan to just three points through the first six minutes of the game. The early advantage was guided by 6-of-19 shooting from the arch, 4-of-6 from the line, capped off by a lone three-pointer by Voss.
 
WMU began the second stanza with their best shooting of the contest. The Broncos shot 8-of-16 from the field (50 percent), 3-6 from deep (50 percent), and 5-of-7 (71.43 percent) from the line for a total of 24 points in the second. Spitzley's 15 points in the first half, helped the Broncos take a 41-28 advantage into the intermission. 
 
The third began with back-to-back baskets by Williams followed by a made three-point jumper by Ross. At a 20-point lead, the Broncos would continue their stride to keep ahead of the Chippewas. The third quarter concluded with 16 more points for Western Michigan and 13 for CMU to make it 57-41 heading into the final stretch.
 
The Broncos added more faces to the court in the last stretch to help hold the lead and close in on a victory. Lauren Audino, De'Ahna Richardson, Kallie Harrison, and Emily Flannery entered the game, closing out the WMU defensive battle strong.
 
As a team, the Broncos notched 12 assists, 11 steals, and four blocks. Western Michigan pulled 36 down off the glass (47-36) while shooting 38.8 percent from the field, 22.6 percent from deep, and 63.2 percent from the line. WMU scored 34 points in the paint, 14 points from the bench, and capitalized on 20 points from Chippewa's turnovers. 
 
Western Michigan heads on the road to Athens, Ohio to face the Bobcats of Ohio University on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7 pm before returning to University Arena on Saturday, Jan. 21 for a contest against Buffalo at noon.