KALAMAZOO, Mich. – It came down to the wire, but the Western Michigan University women's basketball team was able to hold on for a 55-48 win over the Akron Zips.

The Broncos battled back and forth with Akron in the fourth quarter of Wednesday night's game, with all but 20 seconds being a one-possession lead on either side. An open layup for junior guard Nile Muguira Orbe, followed by six made free throws, sealed the win for WMU in the closing 30 seconds of the game. Sophomore guard D'Myjah Bolds led the Brown and Gold on both offense and defense with her first double-double of the season. Bolds matched her career-high in points with 15 while also bringing down 12 boards in 30 minutes on the floor for Western Michigan.

It was a back-and-forth game to begin on Wednesday as the teams matched each other shot for shot. At the media timeout after five and a half minutes, Akron led by two on a shooting foul. The Broncos ended up in foul trouble early with four fouls right out of the timeout. But two quick layups for WMU tied the game back up. The Brown and Gold dominated scoring in the final four minutes of the frame as Western Michigan closed out the quarter on a 17-5 run to lead by eight.

Both teams scored in the first minute and a half of the second quarter. But the offenses on both sides struggled after, with a field goal not being made by either side for the next three and a half minutes. The Zips made two buckets before the Broncos added a layup. WMU's defense continued to stifle Akron's offense, not letting the Zips score for the final three minutes of the first half. The Brown and Gold had the last points of the quarter and went into the locker room with a 29-24 lead.

It took Western Michigan a minute and a half to get going on offense, but quickly put together a solid run. The Broncos scored the next 7 points to take their largest lead of the game at 10. A three from Akron put the WMU lead back into single digits for just under two minutes until Bolds put together a three-point play. But the Zips ended the third quarter on a four-point run, bringing the Brown and Gold lead down to six.

A quick three from Akron to start the fourth made it only a three-point game. Western Michigan was able to answer at the line to get its lead above a basket. An over three-minute cold spell for the Broncos gave the Zips time to take their first lead of the game in almost 28 minutes.

WMU briefly retook the lead on an Alli Carlson three, but a Brown and Gold foul shortly after tied the game up at 43. Western Michigan's defense was able to hold off Akron as the Zips only scored five more points in the final five minutes of the game. The Broncos took advantage of two Akron players fouling out towards the end of the quarter to make six free throws in the final 20 seconds for the 55-48 victory.

 Sophomore guard Kailey Starks had her ninth double-figure outing of the year for WMU with 13 points, right behind Bolds. Carlson came an assist shy of her career-high against the Zips with seven helpers, while both Carlson and Starks had two steals each. The Brown and Gold will try to keep their win streak going on the road at Toledo over the weekend. Tip-off against the Rockets from Savage Arena on Saturday, Jan. 1,0 is set for 2:00 p.m.