KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's basketball team hosts the Chippewas of Central Michigan for its final home game of the regular season on Wednesday, February 29. Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm inside University Arena. Wednesday's contest features a white out theme, join us at University Arena to support your Broncos for the in-state rivalry matchup!
 
WHERE TO WATCH 
Wednesday's matchup between the Broncos and Chippewas will be available for streaming via ESPN+. The link to the stream is listed above and can be found HERE.
 
THE SERIES
Central Michigan leads the all-time series between the two teams to head into their 111th matchup. CMU holds the all-time home advantage at University Arena, 26-25, and also leads at McGuirk Arena, 29-22. CMU also holds the advantage in Cleveland at the MAC tournament, 9-3.
 
Last time out, Lauren Ross led the Broncos with 20 points, Hannah Spitzley added a season-high 17 points, and Taylor Williams reached double-digits at 14 to push Western Michigan past the Chippewas, 71-60. Spitzley shot 7-of-10 from the field and 2-of-2 from the line, while William's shots were 6-of-13 from the field, and 2-of-6 from the free throw line. She reeled in 1o rebounds, registered a season-high three blocks, and three steals.
 
As a team, the Broncos notched 12 assists, 11 steals and added four blocks. WMU pulled down 36 rebounds while shooting 38.8 percent from the field, 22.6 percent from deep, and 63.2 percent from the bench. Western Michigan capitalized on 20 points from the Chippewa's turnovers.
 
Overall: 52-59
Home: 25-26
Away: 22-29
Neutral: 5-4
MAC Tournament: 9-3
 
Last 10 Meetings: 
Date                Result             Score              Location
2/24/2018        L                      62-78               Kalamazoo, Mich. 
2/13/2019        L                      53-87               Kalamazoo, Mich.
3/6/2019          L                      57-88               Mount Pleasant, Mich.
1/18/2020        L                      70-80               Kalamazoo, Mich.
2/26/2020        L                      60-76               Mount Pleasant, Mich.
12/9/2020        L                      71-82               Mount Pleasant, Mich.
2/6/2021          L                      71-74               Kalamazoo, Mich.
1/5/2022          W                     58-44               Mount Pleasant, Mich.
2/26/2022        W                     68-49               Kalamazoo, Mich. 
1/14/2023        W                     71-60               Mount Pleasant, Mich.
 
CENTRAL MICHIGAN (6-21 Overall, 4-12 MAC)
CMU matches the Broncos as both teams enter their final two regular season games this week. The Chippewas first take on Western Michigan at University Arena and follow with Akron with home advantage at McGuirk Arena. 
 
Last time out, Central Michigan fell in a double-overtime loss at Northern Illinois on Saturday, 84-80. CMU's Sydney Harris poured in a career-high 31 points, while freshman point guard Bridget Utberg added 19 points. The two Chippewas combined 19-for-43 from the floor, including 7-for-19 from the three-point range. 

CMU searches with great hope for a berth in the Mid-American Conference tournament as they take on the Broncos. As a team, the Chippewas average 65.0 PPG shooting 39.3 percent from the field, giving up 45.0 PPG to opponents for a scoring margin of -9.8. Connecting on 31.4 percent from the three-point range and 70.3 percent from the line, CMU makes 6.9 threes and 1.5 free throws each time out. 
 
On the glass, Central Michigan pulls down 37.6 boards per game for a rebounding margin of 1.5. Additionally, CMU dishes out 11.5 per contest and posts a turnover margin of -4.1.
 
Leading the Chippewas offensively, Harris averages 17.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 1.4 APG. Utberg is next in line for Central Michigan, tallying averages of 12.8 PPG on 39.7 percent from the field to go with 1.9 RPG. Rochelle Norris leads the boards for CMU, averaging 2.5 offensive boards and 4.4 defensive boards per game. Norris registers a total of 181 rebounds this season for an average of 7.0 rebounds pulled down per game. 
 
MAC STANDINGS
Toledo (14-2 MAC, 32-4 Overall)
Bowling Green (13-3 MAC, 24-4 Overall) 
Ball State (13-3 MAC, 23-6 Overall)
Kent State (11-5 MAC, 19-8 Overall)
Akron (7-9 MAC, 16-11 Overall)
Northern Illinois (7-9 MAC, 15-12 Overall)
Eastern Michigan (6-10 MAC, 14-13 Overall)
Western Michigan (6-10 MAC, 11-16 Overall)
Miami (6-10 MAC, 11-18 Overall)
Buffalo (5-11 MAC, 10-15 Overall)
Central Michigan (4-12 MAC, 6-21 Overall)
Ohio (4-12 MAC, 6-21 Overall)
 
LEADING THE MAC (*Nationally)
Taylor Williams
    Blocks (141 Ranked) - 2nd (45) *44th
    Blocks Per Game (248 Ranked) - 2nd (1.73) *41st
    Field Goal Percentage (250 Ranked) - 6th (46.1) *126th
    Free Throw Attempts (150 Ranked) - 5th (130) *114th
    Points Per Game (249 Ranked) - 12th (14.9) *174th
    Rebounds (150 Ranked) - 3rd (235) *86th
    Rebounds Per Game (250 Ranked) - 3rd (9.0) *47th
 
Hannah Spitzley 
    Steals (140 Ranked) - 5th (55) *110th
    Steals Per Game (248 Ranked) - 5th (2.04) *105th
 
Gabi Saxman 
    Steals Per Game (248 Ranked) - 7th (1.85) *172nd
 
UP NEXT
Following Wednesday's game, the Broncos are set to conclude MAC play on the road at Buffalo on March 4. Tip-off with the Bulls at Alumni Arena is scheduled for 2 pm.