KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Western Michigan junior guard
Marina Asensio had a career-high 26 points as the Broncos snapped a three-game losing streak with a 77-66 win over Akron at University Arena on Wednesday night.
Asensio was 9-for-12 from the field, including 7-for-10 from three and dished out seven assists. Her seven triples were also a career-best mark. Graduate student Hanna Spitzley had 17 points and seven rebounds, while
Alli Carlson had 16 points and four rebounds.
As a team, the Broncos shot 55.1 percent from the field and 13-of-30 from behind the arc. Although the Zips shot 50 percent from the field, the WMU defense held them to just 3-for-18 from three and also forced 16 turnovers.
Western Michigan jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first 6:40 of the first quarter. The offense for both sides picked up from there, with WMU heading into the second quarter with a 17-12 lead. The Broncos kept the Zips at bay and extended the lead to eight, 27-19, after a layup by
D'Myjah Bolds. UA got within five at the 4:00 mark of the second, but the Broncos went on a 7-1 run to end the half with a 37-26 lead.
WMU opened the third quarter with a 8-4 run and had its largest lead of the game, 45-30, at the 5:55 mark after Asensio's second three of the quarter. The Zips roared back with an 11-0 run to cut the lead to 45-41 and kept pace with the Broncos, who led 50-46 at the end of the third.
The teams battled back and forth to open the fourth quarter until a layup by Ni'Rah Clark gave Akron its first lead of the game, 60-58. The lead didn't last long as Asensio hit another three to push ahead 61-60. Akron's Alexus Mobley got the lead back after a layup but the Broncos countered with a three by Carlson, taking a 64-62 lead with 4:08 left. Carlson then hit a jumper from the free-throw line to make it 66-62. Clark cut the lead back to two with another layup, but that was as close as the Zips got for the rest of the game. Asensio hit a jumper from the left elbow and then Carlson made another triple to put the Broncos up 71-64. Shelbee Brown hit a layup with 1:18 left to cut it to five, but that was Akron's last basket of the game. Asensio responded with her seventh three of the game and then WMU made three free throws in the final minute to clinch the win.
The Broncos are back at it on Saturday at 1 p.m., hosting Ball State for their final home game of the season. Prior to the start, WMU will take time to honor its senior class. Tickets are on-sale now at www.wmubroncos.com/tickets.
