KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's basketball team lost 66-64 to Northern Illinois Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. During the contest, Kaitlyn Zarycki produced a game high 20 points after shooting 8-13 from the field and 3-7 from beyond the arch. Nile Muguira Orbe and De'Ahna Richardson would also combine for 30 points after shooting 41.1% from distance after making seven threes as a duo. Before Saturday's action, the Broncos honored graduate students Zarycki, Jasmine Elder, senior Gabi Saxman, and senior Team Manager Erin Walker for their Senior Day celebration. 

During the first against NIU, the Broncos scored a game best 20 points in the quarter against the Huskies with the help of efficient three point shooting: During the quarter, the Brown and Gold shot 50% from distance and made six threes from downtown. From the 8:15 mark to the 5:47 point of the first quarter, Muguira Orbe (two threes), Saxman (one three), and Zarycki (one three), combined for four straight three pointers to help guide WMU towards a 12-6 lead over the Huskies. After NIU completed a 6-0 run to tie the game at 12 all, the Broncos continued to pile on points: Hannah Spitzley, Zarycki, and Richardson caught fire and created an eight point buffer over NIU with a minute and a half remaining in the first. After a brief NIU response offensively, the Broncos would take a 20-16 lead into the second.  

After the conclusion of the first quarter the Broncos were limited to nine points in the second. Down 21-20, Elder would help the Broncos retain their lead with a layup off an assisting Zarycki during the opening minutes of the second quarter. Less than one minute later, Muguira Orbe splashed a three pointer off an assisting Saxman, to take their final lead of the half at 25-23. Over the final seven and a half minutes of the second quarter, the Broncos were limited to four points. At the break, the women's basketball team faced a 37-29 deficit. 

After the break, the Broncos increased their intensity on the defensive end of the court by forcing the Huskies to shoot 30.77% from the field during the third quarter. A pair of free throws and a layup from Elder along with a layup from Zarycki and a three pointer from Muguria Orbe, provided WMU with a 9-2 scoring run midway through the quarter.  With 4:45 remaining in the third, WMU had reclaimed the lead at 43-42 after Muguria Orbe's three pointer. To close out the third, Muguira Orbe scored a layup and the Broncos cut the deficit to two points entering the fourth quarter. During the quarter, Zarycki, Spitzley, and Saxman all recorded one steal each for the Broncos. 

In the fourth quarter, the Broncos and Huskies battled back and forth for the lead, with WMU shooting their highest percentage by quarter on the day at 57.14%.  With 5:34 remaining in the fourth, the Broncos built a six point lead after a layup from Zarycki to cap off a quick 6-2 scoring run. NIU would respond with a run of their own, scoring six straight over the next two minutes, and tied up the game at 59 all. From the 3:17 mark to the 2:29 mark of the quarter, the Broncos would regain the lead twice after a three pointer from Richardson and a layup from Zarycki. Despite the three point lead, the women's basketball team was unable to score over the final 2:29 of the fourth quarter Saturday. 


Historical Notes 

Zarycki's 2,267 career points currently ranks 12th on the active NCAA scoring list. Today, she continued to etch her name in the WMU record books as she passed Breanna Mobley (2017-18) for the fifth most points scored during a single season for the women's basketball team. The guard's 20 points today improved her season total to 540 points.  

Saxman, now with 128 career swipes, is eight steals away from tying Michelle Fortier (1990-93) for the 18th most steals accounted for in a career at WMU.

As for the guard Megan Wagner, her three assists versus NIU improved her career total to 219. Wagner is now 11 assists from passing Ann Kasdorf (1975-78) for the 17th most assists created all-time for the Brown and Gold. 

Up Next

 The Brown and Gold will travel to Cleveland, Ohio to compete in the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Wednesday, March 13, at 11:00 AM against the Toledo Rockets in the MAC Tournament Quarterfinals. The Broncos will compete as the eighth seed and will face the Rockets on ESPN+.