CHICAGO -- The Western Michigan University women's basketball team continues its week on the road with a stop in the Windy City.

LAST TIME OUT
The Western Michigan University women's basketball team had a hard-fought game against the Indiana Hoosiers on Wednesday night. The Broncos kept the Hoosiers on their toes in a game that was within single digits for over three quarters. But a difficult offensive start to the fourth quarter put WMU in a hole it couldn't get out of in the 71-53 loss. Sophomores D'Myjah Bolds and Kailey Starks led the Brown and Gold on offense with 12 points each while Bolds also led Western Michigan's defense with nine rebounds.

NEW ADDITION
The Broncos welcome Mary Clare Brusek to the roster after finishing her season with WMU volleyball last month at the end of November. A senior forward, Brusek was a two-sport athlete in high school and had offers for both volleyball and basketball before choosing Western Michigan volleyball.

With Brown and Gold volleyball, Brusek was part of two MAC Tournament Championships and two NCAA Tournament trips. This past season, Brusek earned All-MAC First Team honors and was named the MAC Player of the Week on October 27th. 

RETURNING TO FAMILIAR TERRITORY
Head Coach Kate Achter makes her first return to Loyola Chicago since her tenure as the Ramblers head coach from 2016 to 2022. In Gentile Arena, Achter turned around Loyola's program, taking the Ramblers to their best season in over 30 years with an 18-12 season in 2021-22. Achter's final season with Loyola still remains the program's highest win total since the 1988-89 season.

SERIES HISTORY
Sunday will be the 12th meeting in the series between the Brown and Gold and Loyola. Western Michigan currently holds a 7-5 advantage in the series, but the Ramblers have won the last two meetings. Both of those wins were at University Arena for Loyola as the Broncos won the last game in Gentile Arena in 2019. 

Last season WMU dropped its afternoon contest against Loyola University Chicago 57-46, also on a Sunday. In the loss, Alli Carlson scored a career and game high 16 points, while graduate student Hannah Spitzley supplied a game high four steals for the Brown and Gold.    

SCOUTING THE RAMBLERS
Loyola returns home to Gentile Arena after a three-game road stretching back to mid-November. The Rambers come into Sunday's game at 2-6 with their two wins coming over Milwaukee and cross-town rival Depaul. Loyola returns from a tough contest at Richmond for its first A-10 conference game of the season, losing to the Spiders 69-46. 

The Ramblers are led by freshman phenom Alex-Anne Bessette who leads the team in scoring with 11.1 points per game. She's reached double figures four times, tying for the team lead with sophomore forward Brooklyn Vaughn. Bessette paced Loyola in Richmond, going 6-of-13 from the field and 3-of-6 from long range for 15 points.