KALAMAZOO, MICH. – The Western Michigan women's basketball team will host the Eastern Michigan Eagles for their Play4Kay game on Wednesday, February 21, at University Arena at 7:00 PM. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
EMU is paced by junior Tayra Eke, who is averaging 10 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per contest. Last time out versus Northern Illinois University, Eke scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 24 minutes. In the backcourt, junior Lachelle Austin led the Eagles with a game-high 19 points after shooting 6-19 from the field and 3-8 from distance. Over her last three games, Austin is averaging 12.3 points per game while shooting 36.8% from the field.
In their last matchup, the Broncos lost to Miami (OH) on the road 58-50 on Saturday. Graduate student guard Kaitlyn Zarycki led the Broncos with 17 points and one block in the loss. Entering tomorrow's contest, Zarycki has 435 points and counting this season, which is the 22nd most points scored in a single season for the WMU women's basketball program. To enter inside the top 10 of the WMU women's basketball single-season scoring record book, Zarycki needs to score 60 more points.
Additionally on Saturday, graduate student forward Jasmine Elder posted her third 10 point, five rebound performance of the season. Over her last seven games, Elder has increased her production on the boards exponentially by grabbing 6.9 rebounds per contest.
On the defensive end of the court, senior Gabi Saxman snatched two steals to improve her career total to 119 swipes and counting against Miami (OH). After the conclusion of Saturday's game, the senior is 18 steals away from passing Michelle Fortier (1990-93) for the 18th most steals recorded all-time in WMU women's basketball history.
MAC Tournament Outlook
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Broncos are one game behind fifth seed Bowling Green and two games behind fourth seed Buffalo in the MAC standings. Including Wednesday's contest, the women's basketball team has six conference games remaining until the conclusion of the regular season.
Play4Kay
Play4Kay is the largest fundraising initiative of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and the vision of its founder Olympic gold medal-winning and Naismith Hall of Fame Coach Kay Yow. Through Play4Kay, the Kay Yow Cancer Fund has national impact, extending hope to survivors, raising money to aid in the fight against all cancers affecting women and serving the under-served.
WMU will be offering pink ribbons, pink pom poms, and "I Play 4" cards to fill out during tomorrow's game at the marketing table during the game.
For all things WMU women's basketball, make sure to follow the team on Instagram @wmu_wbb, Twitter @wmu_wbb, and Facebook @westernmichiganwomensbasketball.
