KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan women's basketball team returns to Read Fieldhouse and University Arena for its final game of November.

LAST TIME OUT
Last week the Western Michigan women's basketball struggled at No. 24 Michigan State in a 98-44 loss at the Breslin Center. Redshirt senior De'Ahna Richardson led the Broncos in scoring with 11 points, while Kailey Starks also reached double-digits, scoring 10 points. Ariana Wilkes had a game-high 10 rebounds off the bench for WMU's largest performances against the Spartans under the glass. It was Wilkes first double-digit rebounding performance since her freshman season in 2022-23. 

HOME FOR A SPELL
The Broncos are back on their home court after over two weeks away on Tuesday night ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. WMU's second game at University Arena will be its first weeknight game in front of home fans after two weekday games on the road to begin the regular season.

The Brown and Gold won't have two home games back-to-back until the end of the non-conference portion of the schedule this season. After Tuesday night's game, Western Michigan will return to the road for a third week away. The Broncos first home stand in the 2025-26 season will be from December 14th through the 18th for games against Valparaiso and Dayton.

DOUBLE DIGIT DAILIES
Redshirt senior De'Ahna Richardson continues to be an offensive force for the Broncos over their first four games. Richardson is the only WMU player currently averaging in double-digits and is just outside the Top 20 in the MAC at 12.3 points a game. 

But the Brown and Gold could soon have another player averaging double figure scoring as sophomore Kailey Starks continues to improve her stat line. Starks is now on a two-game double figure scoring streak with a career-high at Milwaukee of 21 points and 10 points at Michigan State. 

SERIES HISTORY
Tuesday evening's matchup between the Brown and Gold and the Roosevelt Lakers will be the first in program history. The Lakers are in their third year as a provisional NCAA member after being an NAIA institution for the 12 years prior. Western Michigan rarely faces teams outside of the NCAA since the program joined Division I basketball in the 1981-82 season.

Roosevelt is the second of three programs this season that the Broncos have never played before 2025-26 in non-conference action. Other new programs WMU has or will see over the next month include Duquesne and potentially a Sun Belt Conference opponent as the Brown and Gold have not played eight of the conferences' 14 teams. 

SCOUTING THE LAKERS
Roosevelt comes into Tuesday night's game with an identical record to Western Michigan at 1-3. The Broncos will be the Lakers second Division I exhibition opponent of the young season. Roosevelt lost an exhibition match to the Evansville Purple Aces on Oct. 28 by only five points in a 68-63 game. The Lakers earned their first win over the weekend with a last second 61-60 victory over the Walsh Cavaliers. Roosevelt's leading scorer junior center Isabella Pitts gave the Lakers the win with a putback in the final 10 second in a 15 point performance. 

Pitts, a former Division I player at Lipscomb, now has back-to-back double digit scorting games for Roosevelt. Along with having 15 in the Lakers first win of the season, she made a career-high 20 points in their loss at Malone (OH). Pitts is one of two double figure scorers for Roosevelt along with junior guard Kelly Boyle. Boyle averages 10.3 points a game while Pitts averages 13.0. The Lakers third leading scorer is also their leading rebounder in junior guard Marie Outlay at 9.5 points and 7.5 rebounds a game.