KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan University women's basketball team defeated Arkansas State University 61-52 Monday evening after a come-from-behind fourth quarter effort at University Arena. In the win, Hannah Spitzley, Vinyet Morato, and Artemis Kouki combined for 38 points on an efficient 13-20 display from the field.  

WMU shot a team-low 33.33% in the first quarter and trailed the Red Wolves 17-10 after one. After Arkansas State jumped out to a 12-4 lead with just over four minutes remaining in the first, The Brown and Gold completed three consecutive possessions with a bucket and cut their deficit to four after a made layup from Kouki. Arkansas would use the final two minutes of the quarter to gain a 17-10 lead over The Brown and Gold to conclude the first frame. 
 

In the second, WMU raced off to a 7-2 run within the first five minutes of the quarter behind layups from Evyn Carrier and Morato, and a three-pointer from Spitzley. With 5:48 remaining in the second, The Brown and Gold had pulled within three points of the Red Wolves. Arkansas State would respond and use a 10-0 run of their own to build a 13-point lead over the Broncos with 2:39 remaining in the half. In the quarter's final 2:05, Spitzley, Morato, and Kouki combined for a 7-0 run to pull the Brown and Gold within six at the break. 
 

In the third quarter, WMU outscored Arkansas State 16-12 to pull within two points entering the fourth, despite facing a 12-point deficit with 5:45 remaining in the frame. Over the last five and a half minutes, the women's basketball team recorded a 12-2 run behind buckets from Spitzley, freshman D'Myjah Bolds and Sarah Rekowski, redshirt junior Kouki, and junior Marina Asensio. Entering the fourth quarter WMU trailed 42-40 after Asensio scored with under 10 seconds to spare in the third.  

In the fourth, the women's basketball team used a 21-10 quarter to overpower Arkansas State after shooting 72.23% from the field. Facing a five-point deficit with 7:30 remaining, WMU dominated and used an incredible 19-4 run over the next six and a half minutes to take a 10-point lead with just under one minute in regulation. Over the 15-point swing, WMU displayed a balanced scoring attack behind Morato, Asensio, Bolds, Spitzley, and Carrier.     
 

Historical Notes

WMU has won its season opening game for the first time since the 2021-22 season. 

Spitzley improved her career three-point total to 87 made from behind the line and counting. The graduate student needs 13 more treys to become the 18th Bronco to net at least 100 career three-pointers. 

Up Next

WMU will travel to College Station, Texas, to take on Texas A&M on Sunday, November 10 at 3:00 PM ET. The game will be available on SEC Network+.