KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's basketball team defeated the Ohio University Bobcats 66-49 to continue their hot start to the 2025 calendar year. In the victory, graduate student Hannah Spitzley scored a team-high 18 points, junior Marina Asensio added 16 points, and redshirt junior Maggie Stutelberg and senior Lauren Audino contributed with 12 and 10 points respectively.  

In the first quarter Thursday, the Broncos and Bobcats battled for an early advantage, however neither team managed to build a significant lead. With 5:27 remaining in the frame Spitzley made a layup off an assist from Alli Carlson, to propel WMU to a 11-4 advantage. Despite the lead, the Bobcats stormed back and outscored the Broncos 13-7 over the final five and a half minutes of the first to cut the Broncos lead to one. The Bobcats would eventually tie the game up at 11 all with 3:07 remaining in the first. The Brown and Gold responded and capitalized on defensive stops including a block by freshman D'myjah Bolds, which resulted in a layup by Spitzley on the offensive end of the court. At the conclusion of the first, the Broncos trailed Ohio 18-17.

In the second quarter, Ohio limited the Broncos to  nine total points. Down 30-20 with 2:24 remaining in the half, Stutelberg splashed a three pointer, Carlson made two free throws, and Audino scored a layup to capture a 7-0 run to climb within two points of the Bobcats. At the half, the Broncos faced a 32-27 deficit.

Riding their wave of momentum from the closing minutes of the second quarter, WMU scored a game-best 20 points in the third after capitalizing on a 6-6 performance at the free throw line. The Broncos continued to fire on all cylinders and opened the third quarter on a 15-0 run to take a 42-32 lead over Ohio with 3:21 remaining in the third. During the run Audino, Asensio, and Spitzley, made field goals for WMU. At the end of the third, WMU took a 47-39 lead into the fourth quarter.

In the final frame, the women's basketball team dominated on both sides of the court yet again and limited their opponents to 10 points, while scoring 19 as a unit offensively. With eight and a half minutes remaining in regulation, the Bobcats diminished The Brown and Gold's lead to four. Over the following five minutes, the Broncos rebuilt their lead, which was capped off by Spitzley scoring on back-to-back offensive possessions. With 3:12 remaining in regulation, WMU held a comfortable 14-point lead at University Arena.

Historical Notes

With their win over Ohio, The Brown and Gold have started Mid-American Conference play 2-1 in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.  

Spitzley passed Molly Dwyer (2006-10) and AJ Johnson (2011-15) on the program's all-time steals list after her two swipes Wednesday. The graduate student increased her career total to 161 steals and counting and is currently 12th all-time in career steals for the women's basketball team. 

Up Next

The Brown and Gold will travel to Northern Illinois University on Saturday, January 11 at 2:00 PM ET.