MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's basketball team will embark on a three-game road trip starting tomorrow against Karrington Gordan and the Central Michigan Chippewas at 1:00 PM on ESPN+. With a victory over the Chippewas, the Broncos would capture their first four-game win streak since January 11-January 21, 2023. 

After encountering a five-game losing streak through the start of January, the Brown and Gold have bounced back by tying a season-high three-game win streak to improve to 8-9 on the season. Over their win streak, WMU has outscored their opponents by an average of nine points a game and has conceded 57.33 points per contest, almost 10 points fewer than their season average of 66.8 points. A win over CMU would put the Broncos at the .500 mark for the first time since December 2, with a 9-9 overall record and a 4-4 record against Mid-American Conference opponents. 

Last time out, the Brown and Gold defeated Reagan Bass and the Akron Zips 60-51 to move within one game of the fourth seed in the MAC standings. In the win, Kaitlyn Zarycki led the Broncos with an NCAA Division I career-high of 34 points after shooting an efficient 10-18 from the field. The guard from Niles, Michigan would also supply two three-pointers and a 12-13 performance from the free-throw line in the victory. Zarycki's 34-point outing registered as the seventh most points scored during a single game in WMU women's basketball program history.

Through 17 games of the season, Zarycki continues to score at a high volume efficiently for the Brown and Gold and enters Saturday's game against CMU with Rachael Rose (Wofford) as the only two players in the nation averaging 50/40/90 splits while scoring 19 points or more on the season. As of Friday afternoon, Zarycki is averaging 19.2 ppg, which is ranked 33rd in the nation. 

As for Zarycki's teammate Hannah Spitzley, she recently improved her streak to a seventh straight game registering a three-pointer in the Broncos' latest victory over Akron. With her most recent three-pointer on Wednesday, Spitzley would propel her career total to 66 three-pointers, which is only 10 treys away from tying Sarah Hurrle (2000-01) for the 21st most career threes in program history (76). Over her last three games, Spitzley has averaged 2.33 treys per game, while shooting at an efficient 43.8% clip from downtown.

For the Chippewas, in their latest matchup against Ohio University, CMU was defeated 68-55. Junior Karrington Gordan would lead CMU with a team-high 14 points after shooting a blistering 71.4% from the field and 75% from three out of four attempts from distance. On eight occasions this season, Karrigton has scored 12 or more points for the Chippewas. CMU enters the Saturday tilt against the Broncos with a 3-14 record (1-6 MAC record).  

Since the 2021-22 season, the Brown and Gold have accumulated a four-game win streak against CMU. A win Saturday would give Western Michigan its first five-game win streak over CMU since the 2001/02 - 2003/04 seasons. 

For all things WMU women's basketball make sure to follow the team on Instagram @wmu_wbb, Twitter @wmu_wbb, and Facebook @westernmichiganwomensbasktball.